The blast took place inside the mosque in the Police Lines area at 1.40pm when worshipers – including police. Army and bomb disposal squad personnel – were offering Zohr (afternoon) prayers.
A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque packed. With worshipers during noon prayers Monday. In the high-security area of Pakistan’s restive northwestern city of Peshawar. Taliban Killing 46 people and wounding nearly 150, mostly policemen.
The blast took place inside the mosque in the Police Lines area at 1.40pm when worshipers. Including police, army and bomb disposal squad personnel. Were offering Zohr (afternoon) prayers. Officials said the front-line bomber blew himself up.
Officials at Lady Reading Hospital said that 46 people have died so far. Yet, Peshawar Police released a list of 38 people.
Most of the dead and injured were police and security officials.
A brother of slain Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Umar Khalid Khurasani has claimed. That the suicide blast was part of a revenge attack for his brother. Who was killed in Afghanistan last August.
The banned TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban. Has carried out several suicide attacks targeting security personnel in the past.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General. Asim Muni rushed to Peshawar to review relief and rescue operations.
The Prime Minister along with. The Army Chief also visited Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar. And inquired about the health of the injured. Home Minister Rana Sanaullah and other officials were present at the time.
Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb tweeted that the prime minister called an emergency meeting.
Peshawar Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Shahzad Kaqab, whose office is near the mosque. Told the media that the explosion occurred when he entered the mosque to offer prayers. He said, luckily he survived the attack.
A police official said a part of the mosque had collapsed and several people were believed to be under it.
Bilal Faizi, in-charge of the rescue operation, told the media. “We are currently focusing on the rescue operation. Our first priority is to safely rescue the people buried under the rubble.”
Peshawar Police Headquarters, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Frontier Reserve Police (FRP). Elite Force and Telecommunication Department are also located near the blast site.
The bomber entered the heavily guarded. Mosque inside police lines that had four levels of security.
Quoting Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Muhammad Ijaz Khan, Dawn newspaper reported. That several jawans are still trapped under the rubble and rescuers are trying to pull them out.
Khan said 300 to 400 police officers were present in the area at the time of the blast. “It is clear that a security lapse occurred,” he told the media.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif strongly condemned the attack. Saying the attackers “have nothing to do with Islam”.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those. Who are responsible for protecting Pakistan.” He said and promised that the sacrifices of the blast victims would not go in vain. “The entire nation stands united against terrorism.” He also said that a comprehensive strategy would be adopted to deal with. The deteriorating law and order situation in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. And the federal government would help the provinces to enhance their anti-terrorism capabilities.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the attack. Saying “terrorist incidents were meaningful ahead of local and general elections”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali condemned the blast. And called on people to donate blood for the injured, saying it would be a “huge boon for the police”.
According to hospital sources, the condition of 13 of the injured is critical.
Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan condemned the attack. And offered condolences to the bereaved families.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the mosque.
