People and rescue workers gather to search for survivors under the collapsed roof of a mosque after a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan. Photo credit: Reuters
The number of kills from a powerful A suicide attack in a crowded mosque in Peshawar The death toll in northwestern Pakistan rose to 93 on Tuesday after rescue teams pulled more bodies from the rubble, police said.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place inside a mosque in the high-security Police Lines area on Monday.
According to security officials, the suicide bomber was in the front row during Zuhr (afternoon) prayers when he blew himself up. The police said that the imam of the mosque, Sahibzada Noor Al-Amin, was also killed in the blast.
He said that a total of 93 people were killed and 221 injured in this attack.
“The death toll in the Peshawar blast has risen to 93 as rescue operations continue and the debris of the mosque is being removed,” state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
According to Police Control Room Peshawar, more than two hundred injured were brought to Lady Reading Hospital, out of which around one hundred are undergoing treatment in the hospital and the rest have been discharged.
Earlier, the spokesperson of Lady Reading Hospital, Muhammad Asim, said that 157 injured people were brought to medical facilities after the explosion.
The bodies of 44 people were also shifted to the hospital. Currently, around 65 injured are undergoing treatment at Lady Reading Hospital. Some of the injured are in critical condition, while most are in stable condition,” Mr. Asim said, adding that most of the injured and dead included police officers.
The investigation is ongoing
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Ijaz Khan while talking to the media said that it is too early to say anything as many policemen are still buried under the debris.
“Around 300-400 policemen usually offer noon prayers. If the blast took place inside police lines, it is a security lapse but investigation into the matter may reveal more,” the CCPO said. .
Mr. Khan said that there is a possibility that the assailant may have entered the mosque premises in an official vehicle.
“[The] The CTD is investigating the case,” he said.
The preliminary investigation report of the explosion has been sent to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Geo News Reported with reference to sources.
Sources say that the evidence found at the scene indicates that it was a suicide attack. According to the report, the roof collapsed due to the pillar falling, which caused a lot of damage. The report said that a high-level inquiry committee has been set up to look into the security lapses.
President, Prime Minister condemned the attack.
Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have condemned the attack.
“I strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly blast at the mosque in Peshawar. The culprits will be found and punished. Condolences to the families who lost an innocent member and prayers for the injured. Bury terrorism forever. It should be given,” tweeted Dr. Alvi.
Mr Sharif said the explosion inside the mosque proved that those involved in the attack had “nothing to do with Islam”. “These terrorists are trying to create fear by targeting those who are doing their duty to defend Pakistan,” he said, assuring people that the coalition government would take strict action against those involved in the attack.
PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan also condemned the suicide attack on Twitter.
Police Lines strongly condemns the suicide attack during prayers in Peshawar. My prayers and condolences are with the families of the victims. It is imperative that we improve our intelligence gathering and adequately equip our police forces to deal with the growing threat of terrorism.
Last year, 63 people were killed in a similar attack inside a Shia mosque in Kucha Risaldar area of the city.
The TTP, formed in 2007 as an umbrella group of several militant outfits, broke a ceasefire with the federal government and ordered its militants to carry out terror attacks across the country.
The group, believed to be close to al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including the 2009 attack on army headquarters, attacks on military bases, and the 2008 attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Includes bombing.
In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban stormed the Army Public School (APS) in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing at least 150 people, including 131 students. The attack shocked the world and was widely condemned.
