Police officers killed in Pakistan suicide attack

A policeman injured in a suicide bomb attack is wheeled on a stretcher as he arrives at a hospital in Quetta August 8, 2013. A suicide bomber killed 31 people in Pakistan on Thursday, including five senior police officers, at the funeral of a policeman in the city of Quetta in a scene captured live on television as cameras broadcast the event. [Photo/Agencies]

ISLAMABAD -- At least 31 people including high rank police officials were killed and over 50 others injured on Thursday afternoon as a suicide blast hit a funeral in Pakistan's Southwest city of Quetta, local media and officials said.

Police officer Muhammad Tariq said that 25 policemen were among the dead while six bodies of civilians including children were also shifted to hospitals.

Local media quoting police sources said that five high rank police officers including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Operations Fayyaz Ahmed Sumbal got killed in the attack.

According to the reports, the incident took place when policemen and civilians were assembling at the courtyard of a mosque located in the police headquarters to attend the funeral of a police official who was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Thursday morning.

Eyewitness said that when the convoy of high officials arrived, the suicide bomber rushed to them and exploded his jacket near the main entrance of the mosque that killed scores of policemen on spot.

Rescue teams and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the Civil Hospital, and Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

Hospital officials said that the death toll may further rise as many of the injured are still in critical condition.

Bomb Disposal Squad confirmed that it was a suicide attack, adding that around 10 kilogram of explosives was used in the blast.

No group claimed responsibly for the attack yet.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and asked the authorities to provide the best available treatment to the injured.