Twelve people were killed in Pakistan's Quetta city Thursday when a car packed with 100 kg explosives blew up just as a vehicle carrying security personnel was passing by.
The deafening explosion took place in Bhosa Mandi area of Quetta Thursday morning, DawnNews reported.
Fayyaz Sumbal, a senior police official, said militants targeted the police's Rapid Response Force (RRF) vehicle through a remote control bomb.
The explosives were planted in a car that was parked on the roadside.
"When vehicle of RRF reached the spot there was a huge blast," he was quoted as saying.
The blast destroyed police vehicles and nearby buildings.
"More than 100 kgs explosives were used in the blast," a bomb disposal squad official told the daily.
The bombing took place as Pakistan hosts the high-profile visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who arrived in Islamabad on a two-day trip Wednesday.
According to Xinhua, five people died on the spot while seven succumbed to their injuries at Civil Hospital Quetta, where the injured were shifted by police and rescue workers.
Hospital administration said the injured include 12 security personnel and five civilians.
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