The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the Pakistani city of Quetta that targeted the provincial police chief and killed eight persons.
The IMU took credit for the attack in a statement released on a jihadist forum yesterday by Yahya Hikmatiy, the group's spokesman.
Hikmatiy confirmed the target of the attack was Balochistan Police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
Several policemen were among those killed in Sunday's suicide attack.
Nearly 70 people were injured in the attack, which occurred in a high-security zone of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.
Sukhera had a narrow escape.
The IMU claimed two tonnes of explosives were used in the attack.
It said the attack was carried out in retaliation for a "helicopter attack of Pakistan Army against IMU's madrasa for young children�25 days ago".
One IMU student, a 12-year-old boy, was killed and 10 people were wounded in the incident, it claimed.
The IMU further said the attack in Quetta was carried out by Ali, a 52-year-old member of the group.
It claimed that Ali's daughter Ummu Usman had also carried out a suicide attack in Pakistan last year.
The IMU, which has links with al-Qaeda, is based in North Waziristan tribal region.
