Pakistan: Quetta blast kills 5, injures several other near IGP office

At least five people were killed in a blast in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, capital of the country's Baluchistan province, a police official told Reuters.

"The blast took place near the IG office (inspector general of police) and it's possible the assailants were trying to enter the (army) cantonment which is close by," said provincial government spokesman Anwar ul-Haq Kakar.

According to reports, the police has cordoned off the area and the injured people are being shifted to hospitals. Police spokesman Shahzada Farhat told news agency AP that the attack took place Friday morning in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province. No one has yet taken responsibility for the attack.

Television footage showed emergency services rushing to the area which was covered in debris and security officials cordoning off the area.