Suicide bomber gunned down in Pakistan

Islamabad, April 26 (IANS) A suicide bomber was shot dead and two of his companions sustained bullet injuries Thursday before they could attack a bus carrying Shia pilgrims in Pakistan's Quetta city, officials said.

Police stopped the three suspects at a check-post but they tried to run away. Armed policemen followed and fired in the air to stop them but they threw a hand grenade at the security personnel besides opening fire with pistols.

In retaliation, the policemen shot one of them dead and injured his two companions, Xinhua reported.

Police found an explosive jacket tied to the body of the dead man. The explosives were defused by a bomb squad.

Officials took the injured terrorists to an unknown place for investigation.

A security official said the terrorists were trying to enter Hazara town, a sensitive area near Quetta where sectarian killings have been reported in recent months.

"They were on their way to attack a bus of Shia Muslim pilgrims planning to go to Iran for a holy visit," the official said.

In April, at least 26 people from the Shia community have been killed in Quetta.