More than a dozen people were killed on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside a polio vaccination center near the city of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan.
Vaccination campaigns and health workers have repeatedly been targeted by Islamic militants in the region. This particular attack killed mostly police officers who were escorting the health workers.
Ahmad Marwat, a self-described spokesman for militant group Jundullah, or Army of God, claimed responsibility for the bombing, reported the Associated Press.
The incident occurred as workers were about to start vaccinating residents for the day in Baluchistan province during a three-day immunization campaign.
The restive area includes al-Qaida and Taliban insurgents and Baloch separatists, who are seeking a larger share of natural resources or outright independence.