10 kg explosive material used in Quetta blast, says report

QUETTA: The latest report from intelligence agencies into the investigation of Kirani Road bomb blast has concluded that explosives weighing only 10 kilograms were used in the blast but the impact of 1000 kilograms was created through addition of chemicals.

According to the report, chemicals including phosphorus, aluminum and potassium were mixed with the explosives besides diesel, sugar and ammonium nitrate to cause many times larger impact that also damaged a number of surrounding buildings.

Most of the deaths were caused by the people's getting trapped under the debris and eruption of fire that made the bodies unidentifiable.

Explosives of this kind were earlier used in blasts at Islamabad Marriot Hotel, FIA Lahore office, and Karachi CID building.

The report further said that the tanker used in the blast was prepared at a workshop in Hazar Ganji area while the explosives were supplied from Waris Chemicals located at Akbari Mandi, Lahore.

It said that chemical detectors do not have the capacity to detect materials like fertilizers and that it was not feasible to stop chemical shipments being transported in a variety of forms and shapes.

Due to water shortage in Hazara Town, almost 100 to 120 water tankers enter and leave the area which makes it difficult to scan each and every single tanker, the report said.