Gunmen kill 18 passengers in Turbat

QUETTA: Unknown gunmen Friday killed at least 18 passengers and injured several others in Turbat, Geo News reported.

According to sources, the Iran-bound convoy of passenger vans, which started its journey from Karachi, was attacked in Khadan area of Turbat.

Eyewitnesses said the biker gunmen who were lying in wait, opened fire at the passenger vans as they pulled over at a roadside motel, kept shooting until their automatic weapons were depleted of ammo, made as many kills as they could, and then revved away without a trace.

The attackers were six in number, another eyewitness said.

Initial reports revealed that most of these passengers were to cross Pakistan-Iran border as illegal immigrants so they could later head to Europe via Turkey.

Chief Minister Balochsitan, Aslam Raisani, after taking a notice of the incident has ordered a thorough probe.

He also ordered a crackdown on those who were involved in all kinds of human smuggling.

The dead and the injured were being taken to the Civil Hospital.

More details are awaited.