12 killed, 40 wounded in Pakistan blast

Islamabad, June 7 (IANS) At least 12 people were killed and over 40 injured Thursday in a bomb blast outside a seminary in Pakistan's Quetta city, police said.

The blast took place around 3 p.m. when a large number of people gathered in the Islamic religious school for the annual degree and prize distribution ceremony, said Deputy Inspector General Qazi Abdul Wahid.

He said an unidentified militant had hidden explosive materials inside flower garlands brought for the ceremony, Xinhua reported.

The militant, however, failed to enter the school building because of tight security measures and parked his explosives-laden bicycle outside the main gate.

Senior police officer Mir Zubair said the blast was triggered by a timed device. At least six kg of explosives were used.

Local media said the seminary belonged to Sunni Muslims and the attack could be a result of sectarian confrontation between Sunnis and Shias.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.