UPDATE - Suicide bomber targets police guarding anti-polio team in Pakistan, leaving 4 dead, 27 injured

UPDATES CASUALTY FIGURES, ADDS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA)- At least four people were killed and 27 others, including 24 policemen, were injured when a suspected suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a police vehicle in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday morning, officials and local media said.

The suspected bomber, who acted alone, targeted a truck carrying police personnel for the security of anti-polio vaccinators in a suburban locality of Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, which borders neighboring Afghanistan and Iran, Abdul Haq Umrani, the city police chief told reporters.

A video provided by the police and aired on local TV channels showed a white car colliding head-on with the truck, resulting in a massive explosion.

The truck could be seen toppling and falling into a ditch.

Police said at least 25 kilograms of the explosive material was used in the blast

A policeman and three civilians were killed, the local Dawn newspaper reported, citing Dr. Waseem Baig, media coordinator for the Balochistan Health Department, who added that some of the injured are in critical condition.

Images aired on local broadcaster Geo News showed rescue and security personnel shifting the bodies and injured into the honking ambulances, which transported them to a local hospital.

At least three damaged vehicles were also seen on the spot with blood-soaked shoes, helmets, pieces of clothes, and glasses strewn around.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a conglomerate of several militant groups operating in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The outlawed group has long been involved in attacks on security forces and anti-polio vaccinators across the country.

The latest bombing took place just two days after the TTP announced the ending of a so-called cease-fire with the security forces and threatened to carry out fresh attacks.