Suicide Bomber Kills at least 15 Outside of Polio Vaccination Center in Pakistan

A suicide bomber in Pakistan has killed at least 15 people, with the majority of the victims being policemen, the officials stated.

The attack occurred on Wednesday outside of a polio vaccination center in the outskirts of Quetta, a city that is located in southwestern Pakistan. Police spokesman, Shahzada Farhat reported that 13 policemen, one solider and a civilian were killed in the bombing. 23 people were injured.

The Interior Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, stated, according to the New York Times that the suicide bomber purposely detonated the bomb near policemen.

"We are living in a war zone and I can't say anything about the nature of the blast," Bugti said to the media. "We will not bow down before terrorists."

The bombing occurred right before three teams of medics were about to dispatch to nearby neighborhoods to start a three-day vaccination campaign, the local police chief, Syed Imtiaz Shah stated. Polio is still endemic in Pakistan.

The spokesman for a small militant group known as Jundullah, Ahmad Marwat, claimed responsibility for the attack. Although he did not say why they decided to attack a polio vaccination center, Marwat warned that future polio vaccination teams would be targeted.

"We claim the bomb blast on the polio office. In the coming days, we will make more attacks on polio vaccination offices and polio workers," he said via the phone.

Reuters reported that the Pakistani Taliabn also claimed responsibility for the bombing. Both groups have pledged an allegiance to the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL.

Islamic fighters have continued to target vaccination center, health workers and police escorts over the past few years. These militants have repeatedly accused the medical staff of being spies for the United States. Some are fearful that the campaigns are a part of a secret mission to sterile Pakistani children.

Terrorist groups Al-Qaida and the Taliban, as well as Sunni militant groups, are active in the Baluchistan province.