A suicide assault on a school bus in Pakistan’s unrest-plagued Balochistan region on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least five people, including three children, and wounded a number of others.

The army claimed in a statement that a bus transporting youngsters was targeted in the Khuzdar area.

The army described the assault as “ghastly” and “cowardly,” claiming that three children and two adults were murdered and many more were injured.

According to the Interior Ministry, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) was used to carry out the explosion.

38 individuals were hurt in the explosion, which happened close to the Zero Point region, according to Khuzdar Deputy Commissioner Yasir.