Pakistan Peshawar Mosque Bomb Blast: More than 28 people died and over 120 people were injured in the blast. Most of those who were injured were policemen
More than 28 people died and over 120 people were injured after a mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar was rocked by a bomb blast on Monday. Among those dead, most of them were police officers, Pakistan-based news media outlets reported.
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A report by GeoTV which cited Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Shafi Ullah Khan said that the blast was a suicide attack. He also confirmed that at least 25 people have died.
The blast occurred inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area during the afternoon prayers. No terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The area has been cordoned off, news agency the Dawn reported, and only ambulances have been allowed to enter the area.
A police official also told the Dawn that a portion of the building has collapsed and several people remain trapped inside the rubble.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast and said the attackers behind the blast “have nothing to do with Islam”.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan,” Sharif said in his statement. He said a strategy will be adopted to strengthen the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
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Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the attack in a tweet. “Strongly condemn the terrorist suicide attack in police lines mosque Peshawar during prayers. My prayers & condolences go to the victims’ families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism,” Khan said in a tweet.
Peshawar was rocked by a blast of similar nature in 2022 when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb inside a Shia mosque in Kocha Risaldar area, killing 63 residents.
A resident speaking to GeoTV said that he was en route to the mosque when the explosion took place. The person said that the explosion was powerful and the area was covered with smoke immediately after the blast.
The person told GeoTV that he lost consciousness and when he regained consciousness he found that the mosque’s roof collapsed.
The eyewitness also said that among those injured, most of them were policemen. He pointed out that Zohr prayers began when the blast occurred and at least 120 people were inside at the time of the bomb blast.
Another resident also expressed his surprise while speaking to GeoTV and said that he regularly prays at the mosque and the security is always tight in the Police Lines area, as people are let in only after they present their IDs and after being frisked.
Pakistan capital Islamabad has been placed under high-alert following the blasts.
(this is a developing story)
