:2024 Quetta railway station bombing

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2024 Quetta railway station bombing

| image = Quetta railway station bombing.jpg

| caption = A CCTV still of the bombing

| partof = the insurgency in Balochistan

| map =

| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q131108983|type:event_region:PK-BA|display=inline,title}}

| location = Quetta railway station, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

| target = Civilians

| type = Suicide bombing

|motive=Baloch nationalism

| date = 9 November 2024

| time = {{Circa}} 8:25{{nbsp}}a.m.

| timezone = UTC+05:00

| weapons = Explosives

| fatalities = 32 (including the perpetrator)

| injuries = 55{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2025 |title=BLA hijacks Jaffar Express: Notable attacks carried out by Balochistan Liberation Army in Pakistan |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/bla-hijacks-jaffar-express-notable-attacks-carried-out-by-balochistan-liberation-army-in-pakistan-bolan-mashkaf-dhadar-2025-03-11-980186 |access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=India TV |language=en}}

| perpetrator ={{flagicon image|Balochistan flag.svg}} Balochistan Liberation Army

Majeed Brigade

| assailant = Muhammad Rafiq Bizenjo{{KIA|Suicide}}

| numparts =

| victims =

}}

On 9 November 2024, at least 32 people were killed and 55 others were injured in a suicide bombing at Quetta railway station in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Zehri |first=Abdullah |date=9 November 2024 |title=24 killed, at least 50 injured in blast at Quetta Railway Station |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1871234/24-killed-46-injured-in-blast-at-quetta-railway-station |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112220613/https://www.dawn.com/news/1871234/24-killed-46-injured-in-blast-at-quetta-railway-station |archive-date=2024-11-12 |website=Dawn |language=en}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/death-toll-rises-to-20-in-southwestern-pakistan-rail-station-bombing/7857955.html |title=Suicide blast kills 25 at train station in southwestern Pakistan |date=9 November 2024 |website=Voice of America |author-last1=Gul|author-first1=Ayaz |language=en}} The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack.{{Cite web |last=ur-Rehman |first=Zia |date=9 November 2024 |title=Train Station Suicide Bombing Leaves Dozens Dead or Wounded in Pakistan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/09/world/asia/pakistan-suicide-bombing.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112202709/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/09/world/asia/pakistan-suicide-bombing.html |archive-date=2024-11-12 |website=The New York Times |language=en}} It was the first time that the BLA had attacked the centre of Quetta.{{Cite web |title=At least 26 killed in railway station bombing in Pakistan's Quetta |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/9/several-killed-in-railway-station-bombing-in-pakistans-quetta |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

Background

File:Quetta Railway Station 3.jpg

The Quetta Railway Station is a major transport hub in Quetta and one of the largest stations in the province of Balochistan.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2023 |title=Quetta Railway Station |url=https://railwaystations.pk/quetta-railway-station/ |access-date=9 November 2024 |publisher=railwaystations.pk |language=en }}

Attack

At around 8:25 a.m., a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device on a crowded platform near the ticket office in the station, where around 150 to 200 people were waiting to board a train travelling to Rawalpindi. The explosion damaged the platform's roof and destroyed a tea stall. At least 32 people were killed, including soldiers and railway employees, and another 62 were injured. Several of the victims were taken to the hospital in critical condition.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2024 |title=A powerful suicide bombing at a rail station in southwestern Pakistan kills at least 26 |url=https://apnews.com/article/quetta-railway-bombing-pakistan-30457309ca4b4c29bd3a5149509acb2e |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=AP News |language=en |author-last1=Sattar|author-first1=Abdul}}

The Balochistan Liberation Army, an ethnic secessionist group designated as a terrorist organization by China,{{cite web |title=Joint Statement Third Quadrilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China |url=https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202409/t20240930_11501285.html}} the European Union,{{cite web |last=Ricks |first=Thomas E. |date=31 March 2016 |title=Balochistan is seething, and that can't make China happy about investing |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/31/balochistan-is-seething-and-that-cant-make-china-happy-about-investing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520085058/https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/31/balochistan-is-seething-and-that-cant-make-china-happy-about-investing/ |archive-date=20 May 2019 |access-date=28 June 2019}} Iran, {{cite web |title=Joint Statement Third Quadrilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China |url=https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202409/t20240930_11501285.html}} Pakistan,{{cite web |last=Raza |first=Irfan |date=10 April 2006 |title=BLA declared terrorist organisation, banned |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/187183/bla-declared-terrorist-organisation-banned |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904192128/https://www.dawn.com/news/187183/bla-declared-terrorist-organisation-banned |archive-date=4 September 2018 |access-date=10 April 2006 |publisher=Dawn}} Russia,{{cite web |title=Joint Statement Third Quadrilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China |url=https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202409/t20240930_11501285.html}} United Kingdom,{{cite web |title=Proscribed terrorist groups |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2 |access-date=2 March 2020 |work=Home Office}} and the United States,{{cite web |date=2 July 2019 |title=Terrorist Designations of Balochistan Liberation Army and Husain Ali Hazzima and Amendments to the Terrorist Designations of Jundallah |url=https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-of-balochistan-liberation-army-and-husain-ali-hazzima-and-amendments-to-the-terrorist-designations-of-jundallah/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702200434/https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-of-balochistan-liberation-army-and-husain-ali-hazzima-and-amendments-to-the-terrorist-designations-of-jundallah/ |archive-date=2 July 2019 |access-date=2 July 2019 |work=U.S. Department of State}}{{cite web |date=2 July 2019 |title=US brands BLA as global terrorist group |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1491688/us-brands-bla-in-pakistan-as-global-terrorist-group |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702183427/https://www.dawn.com/news/1491688/us-brands-bla-in-pakistan-as-global-terrorist-group |archive-date=2 July 2019 |access-date=2 July 2019 |work=Dawn News}} issued a statement claiming responsibility for the bombing saying it was carried out by the group's Majeed Brigade.{{Cite news |date=9 November 2024 |first=Saleem |last=Shahid |title=26 martyred in Quetta railway station explosion |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1871371 |access-date=9 November 2024 |publisher=Dawn |language=en }} The group said that it targeted soldiers, which the inspector-general of police in Balochistan, Moazzam Jah Ansari, described as being from the "Infantry School".{{Cite news |title=Bomb blast at Pakistan train station kills at least 24 |url=https://theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/09/bomb-blast-at-pakistan-train-station-kills-dozens |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} The Counter Terrorism Department reported that the bomber had carried {{Convert|8–10|kg}} of explosive material inside a bag.{{Cite news |date=10 November 2024 |first=Mohammad |last=Baloch |title=26 die in Quetta railway station suicide bombing |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1249365-27-dead-in-quetta-railway-station-suicide-bombing |access-date=10 November 2024 |publisher=The News International |language=en }}{{Cite web |title=Pakistan suicide bomb blast: At least 25 killed in Quetta railway station explosion |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm27v28r4y0o |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |author-first1=Jamie|author-last1=Whitehead|author-first2=Sofia|author-last2=Ferreira Santos|date=9 November 2024 }}

Casualties

Thirty-two people, including the perpetrator, were killed in the bombing, and 55 others were injured.{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2024 |title=Inside the Deadly Quetta Railway Station Attack and Its Aftermath – TBP Report |url=https://thebalochistanpost.net/2024/11/inside-the-deadly-quetta-railway-station-attack-and-its-aftermath-tbp-report |access-date=November 11, 2024 |publisher=The Balochistan Post |language=en}} The bomber's remains were sent for DNA testing for identification. Twenty-four of the victims were transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and 13 to the Trauma Centre. Hospital officials stated that 25 injured patients were initially treated and discharged.{{Cite news |date=10 November 2024 |first=Mohammad |last=Baloch |title=26 die in Quetta railway station suicide bombing |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1249365-27-dead-in-quetta-railway-station-suicide-bombing |access-date=10 November 2024 |publisher=The News International |language=en }}

Perpetrator

On 10 November 2024, the Balochistan Liberation Army released a photo of the bomber and identified him as Muhammad Rafiq Bizenjo. Bizenjo joined the BLA in 2017 under the alias "Washen" and volunteered for a suicide attack in 2023. He joined and trained with the Majeed Brigade for over a year.{{Cite news |date=10 November 2024 |title=BLA reveals identity of terrorist behind Quetta railway station blast |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/849454-bla-reveals-identity-of-terrorist-behind-quetta-railway-station-blast |access-date=10 November 2024 |publisher=Dunya News |language=en}}{{cite news |title=BLA Details Quetta Blast, Says 31 Army Personnel Killed in 'Fidayee' Attack |url=https://thebalochistanpost.net/2024/11/bla-details-quetta-blast-says-31-army-personnel-killed-in-fidayee-attack/ |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=Balochistan Post |date=10 November 2024 |language=en}}

Aftermath

Two trains at the railway station, the Jaffar Express and the Bolan Mail, were suspended for four days after the bombing due to security concerns.{{Cite news |date=10 November 2024 |title=Two trains suspended Following Quetta Railway Station Bombing |url=https://english.aaj.tv/news/330388072/two-trains-suspended-following-quetta-railway-station-bombing |access-date=10 November 2024 |publisher=Aaj English TV |language=en}}

The Balochistan government declared three days of mourning from 11 to 13 November while security measures across Quetta were significantly increased.{{Cite news |date=10 November 2024 |title=Balochistan Declares Three Days of Mourning for Quetta Railway Station Attack Victims |url=https://www.quettavoice.com/2024/11/10/balochistan-declares-three-days-of-mourning-for-quetta-railway-station-attack-victims/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |publisher=Quetta Voice |language=en}}

Reactions

The attack was condemned by Balochistan chief minister Sarfraz Bugti, National Assembly of Pakistan speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with the foreign ministries of Afghanistan, Iran,{{cite news |title=Tehran strongly condemns deadly train station blast in Pakistan's Quetta |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/506069/Tehran-strongly-condemns-deadly-train-station-blast-in-Pakistan-s |work=Tehran Times |date=9 November 2024 |language=en }} Sri Lanka,{{cite news |title=World leaders condemn deadly terror attack in Pakistan |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/world-leaders-condemn-deadly-terror-attack-in-pakistan/3389851# |work=www.aa.com.tr |date=10 November 2024 }} the United Arab Emirates,{{cite news |title=UAE condemns Pakistan railway station attack |url=https://www.dubaieye1038.com/news/local/uae-condemns-pakistan-railway-station-attack/ |work=Dubai Eye 103.8 |date=10 November 2024 |language=en }}{{cite news |title=UAE strongly condemns terrorist attack at railway station in Quetta, Pakistan |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/uae-strongly-condemns-terrorist-attack-at-railway-station-in-quetta-pakistan-1.1731206192707 |work=Gulf News |date=10 November 2024 |language=en }} Jordan,{{cite news |title=Jordan Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack at Pakistan Railway Station |url=https://www.fananews.com/language/en/jordan-strongly-condemns-terrorist-attack-at-pakistan-railway-station/ |work=Fana News |agency=Federation of Arab News Agencies |date=10 November 2024 |language=en }} the State of Palestine,{{cite web |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Condemns the Terrorist Attack at Quetta Railway Station in Pakistan |work=MOFAE |url=https://www.mofa.pna.ps/en-us/mediaoffice/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-condemns-the-terrorist-attack-at-quetta-railway-station-in-pakistan |publisher=Ministry Of Foreign Affairs & Expatriates Palestine |date=10 November 2024 }} and Turkey, and the US mission to Pakistan.{{cite news |title=US condemns Quetta bombing |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40331657/us-condemns-quetta-bombing |work=Business Recorder |date=10 November 2024 |language=en }} World leaders and diplomats including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,{{cite news |title=MALAYSIA CONDEMNS SUICIDE ATTACK IN QUETTA, PAKISTAN |url=https://www.bernama.com/tv/news.php?id=2361577 |work=Bernama |date=11 October 2024 |language=en }} United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott{{cite news |title=British High Commissioner condemns Quetta attack, calls it divisive act |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2508523/british-high-commissioner-condemns-quetta-attack-calls-it-divisive-act |work=The Express Tribune |date=9 November 2024 |language=en }} conveyed their condolences and condemned the attack.{{cite news |title=World leaders condemn suicide bombing at Quetta railway station |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1871365/world-leaders-condemn-suicide-bombing-at-quetta-railway-station |work=DAWN |date=10 November 2024 |language=en }}