QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A powerful bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded near a vehicle carrying police officers assigned to protect polio workers in restive southwest Pakistan on Friday, killing nine people including five nearby children, and wounding 17 other people, officials said.
Local police chief Fateh Mohammad said the attack occurred in Mastung, a district in Balochistan province. He said a motorized rickshaw carrying schoolchildren was nearby when the bombing happened, resulting in the deaths of five children, a police officer and two passersby.
Some of the wounded were moved to a hospital in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, said Wasim Baig, a spokesman for the health department. He said seven people died on the spot, while two men who had been critically wounded died at a hospital.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on police, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist groups and Pakistani Taliban that have stepped up attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months.
The police chief in Mastung, Rehmat Ullah, said a police van came under attack when it was heading to a health center to escort polio workers for the door-to-door campaign that began on Monday to vaccinate 45 million children under 5, following a surge in new cases.
Pakistan has recorded 41 polio cases across 71 districts so far this year.
The latest attack came days after militants attacked a health center used in the ongoing anti-polio campaign in northwestern district of Orakzai, triggering a shootout that left two policemen dead. Three of the attackers were also killed in the exchange of fire.
Militants in Pakistan often target police and health workers during campaigns against polio, claiming the vaccination drives are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the spread of polio has never been stopped.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the chief minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, both denounced the bombing and vowed to continue the war against insurgents until they are eliminated from the country.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, calling it “unacceptable” and urging the government to investigate and ensure those responsible are brought to justice and held accountable, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Balochistan is the site of a long-running insurgency, with an array of separatist groups staging attacks mainly on security forces. The groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army, demand independence from the central government.
The BLA has also attacked foreigners. Last month, it claimed responsibility for a bombing that targeted Chinese nationals outside an airport in the southern city of Karachi, killing two workers from China and wounding eight people.
Thousands of Chinese workers are in Pakistan as part of Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which is building major infrastructure projects.
Beijing has frequently demanded better security for its nationals in Pakistan.
China's ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, urged Pakistan at a seminar this week to take action against the insurgents responsible for “unacceptable” attacks on Chinese working on projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package that includes road construction, power plants and agriculture.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday expressed her surprise over the ambassador's remarks, saying that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who also attended the seminar, had said “Pakistan is committed to providing full security to Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan. Our commitment has been conveyed at the senior most levels of the Chinese government.”
She said Jiang's statement was “perplexing in view of the positive diplomatic traditions.”
One Pakistani hotel chain, Avari, said the government has instructed that transportation and airport transfers for Chinese guests must be arranged by the host or sponsor “via a bomb/bullet-proof vehicle” with security protocols.
Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan contributed.
A boy, who was injured in the bomb explosion in Mastung town, is treated at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
Paramedics carry a girl, who was injured in the bomb explosion in Mastung town, for treatment at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
Paramedics and volunteers transport an injured victim of a bomb explosion in Mastung town, upon arrival at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers, including Shohei Ohtani and his dog, celebrated their eighth World Series championship with a downtown parade and a raucous on-field party on Friday.
“This is so special,” said Ohtani, who usually only speaks in his native Japanese but addressed a crowd of 42,458 at Dodger Stadium in English. “I'm so honored to be here. Congratulations, Los Angeles. Thank you, guys.”
Fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto added in English, “Thank you, Dodger fans.”
Rapper Ice Cube kicked off the bash by performing “It Was a Good Day,” with manager Dave Roberts dancing and joining in on the lyrics from a blue circular stage in the middle of the field.
“You guys wanted a parade. We got a parade,” Roberts said. “Guys, let's get ready to run this back next year, too.”
Players exchanged hugs and back slaps on the stage as blue-and-white confetti drifted in the air and the team's signature song, “I Love LA,” blared. Their children played on the field, with Freddie Freeman's 8-year-old son, Charlie, leading some of them in jumping up on the lower retaining wall near the crowd.
Players took turns passing around the Commissioner's Trophy.
“Who else has more championships than us in the 2020s?” asked utilityman Kiké Hernández. “Absolutely nobody.”
Roberts introduced Freeman as someone who “ played with one leg and one rib,” in reference to the first baseman's injuries.
“I did everything I could to get on the field for you guys and I’m so glad I did because we got a championship now,” Freeman said. “I can't wait to run this back next year.”
Earlier, seven double-decker buses filled with players, their families and the coaching staff rolled through streets packed on both sides with blue-clad fans. The Los Angeles Police Department estimated the crowd to be 150,000.
“This is incredible,” said Freeman, the World Series MVP. “LA really showed out today.”
Several players smoked cigars and drank beer aboard the buses on the sun-splashed day.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever been part of,” pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “I’ve never seen this many people in my life. They’re all Dodger fans.”
A shirtless Hernández hung over the front of his bus with a beer in his hand. Ohtani held his dog, Decoy, in his arms with his wife, Mamiko, nearby.
“I'm totally overwhelmed with the amount of fans who are here,” Ohtani said through an interpreter as the bus rolled along. “It’s been an incredible year. I’m so happy that I was able to contribute."
Asked if he would take his shirt off like Hernández, a smiling Ohtani shook his head and replied in English, “No, never.”
Walker Buehler, who pitched the ninth inning in the Series finale, did a beer bong while wearing Orel Hershiser's jersey from the team's 1988 World Series championship.
“This is crazy, man. I love this,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said.
Fans cheered and waved to the players. The parade occurred on what would have been the 64th birthday of Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year winner who died days before the World Series began.
The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games, clinching the title with a 7-6 victory in the Bronx on Wednesday.
A portion of the proceeds from the ticketed stadium event will be donated to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
There were more than a dozen arrests during informal celebrations after the team's comeback win to clinch the Series. Burglaries, vandalism and fires occurred in some parts of the city.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Fans cheer before the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts waves at fans during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fans cheer as buses carrying players are driven past during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Alex Vesia yells in celebration during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fans cheer and hold signs before the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles City Hall glows in Dodger Blue to celebrate the Dodgers' World Series Championship in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a team picture after their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A fan holds a replica trophy during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Fans crowd the sidewalk as they wait for the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Fans crowd behind barricades waiting for the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
