At least 25 Pakistani visitors were martyred after unknown militants opened fire on their bus through southwest Pakistan.

At least 25 Pakistani visitors were martyred after unknown militants opened fire on their bus through southwest Pakistan.

The bus, which was heading to Iran holy shrines, was attacked 30km away from the city of Quetta, located near the border with Afghanistan.
Police authorities and district officials had reported that "the bus came under attack by unidentified attackers riding motorcycles, who riddled the vehicle with bullets".

The visitors were passing through the Mastung district in Baluchistan province, of which Quetta is the capital, when the attack occurred, local officials said.

About 40 Shia visitors were riding on the bus and more than a dozen were wounded, a local tribal policeman, Dadullah Baluch, told the AP news agency.

A pickup truck blocked the vehicle's path, and a group of at least eight men carrying rockets and guns forced the passengers off, Khushhal Khan, the bus driver, said.

"They were eight to 10 men and they were carrying rocket launchers and Kalashnikovs," Khan said.
The passengers tried to run, but the gunmen opened fire, he said, after which they sped off in the truck.