According to security sources, the bombs hidden in barrels weighed more than 300 kg, capable of causing massive destruction.
Security forces defused eight explosive devices placed under a major bridge on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway in Surab district on Sunday. Photo: Express
QUETTA:
Security forces defused eight improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found under a bridge on the Quetta-Karachi national highway in Balochistan’s Surab district on Sunday, officials said, averting a possible large-scale attack.
The explosives, hidden in drums and weighing a total of more than 300 kilograms, were recovered during an intelligence operation, according to security sources.
“The explosives were hidden under the bridge in a very concealed manner, indicating significant destructive capacity,” a senior security official said. The Express PK Press Club under condition of anonymity.
The devices were reportedly equipped with remote control and other advanced detonation systems, posing a serious threat to traffic and civilians on the key highway linking Quetta to Karachi.
Learn more: CCTV helps Karachi police arrest suspects in student van theft
Bomb squads moved the explosives to a safe location and successfully neutralized them, officials said. No casualties or injuries were reported during the operation.
Authorities have stepped up security along the highway, while investigations are underway to identify those responsible and dismantle the network behind the attempted attack.
The Quetta-Karachi highway is a vital transport route in Balochistan and has already been the target of security incidents. Traffic on the highway has since resumed normally, officials added.
Balochistan has been facing an insurgency for years, with terrorists from the banned terror group Balochistan Liberation Army recently launching a terror attack on several locations, leaving dozens dead. In a counter-operation carried out by security forces, 216 terrorists were killed, while 22 security personnel embraced martyrdom.
