Suicide attack on a mosque in Police Lines area of ​​Peshawar

Suicide attack on a mosque in Police Lines area of ​​Peshawar

Peshawar

At least 59 people were martyred while 157 people were injured in a suicide attack on a mosque in Police Lines area of ​​Peshawar on Monday, Peshawar Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud confirmed.

“I am here on the spot and rescue work is going on,” Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Shafi Ullah Khan said. “More bodies are being pulled out. Our priority right now is to save the people buried under the rubble.”

The blast took place at a mosque in police lines and injured 157 people who are being taken to Lady Reading Hospital.

Rescuers revealed that the blast occurred during Zohr prayers, when the suicide bomber was standing in the front row.

They said the sound of the explosion was so loud that it could be heard far away, while gunshots were also heard after the blast.

Speaking to reporters, Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ejaz Khan said it was too early to say anything as many policemen were still trapped under the debris.

“We are currently concentrating on the rescue operation. We cannot say for sure, but an explosive is smelled inside the mosque,” the CCPO said. He added that this place has the headquarters of Peshawar Police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), FRP, Elite Forces and Telecommunication Department.

“Nearly 300-400 policemen usually pray at Zohr time. If the blast took place inside police lines, it is a security lapse, but investigation into the matter may reveal more,” the CCPO said.

Part of the building was found to have collapsed and several people are believed to be underneath. Footage from PTV showed police and residents trying to remove the debris and carrying the injured on their shoulders.

Eyewitness testimony

An eyewitness told the media that he was going to the mosque when the explosion occurred.

“It was a powerful explosion. There was smoke everywhere after the explosion,” said the eyewitness. He added that when he woke up, he saw the roof of the mosque had collapsed.

“There were at least 120 people in the mosque when the incident happened. It was a suicide blast because the bomber was in the inner courtyard of the mosque. Zohr prayers had just started when it happened. Among the injured were mostly police officers,” he added. an eyewitness recalled.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Civil Secretariat Association President Tassavur Iqbal, who regularly prays at the mosque, said the security of the Police Lines area is always high and no one can enter without proof of identity and body search.

“This is an unfortunate incident that happened here today. It is a big mosque and 400-500 people can pray at a time. We heard that the building collapsed after the blast,” Iqbal said.

“Bomber crosses two police checkpoints”

Journalist Qaiser explained that the Police Lines are located in the most sensitive area of ​​Peshawar Cantt where a large number of police and FC personnel are present round the clock.

“The offices of the CTD KP and the police investigation department are located here. There are usually 1,000 policemen present at the police headquarters,” he added.

The journalist said that to get inside the area one has to stop at two police checkpoints.

“The bomber was able to sneak in after going through the check three times,” the journalist said.

“No one has claimed responsibility yet”

Speaking to Geo News, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif revealed that the roof collapsed due to the intensity of the blast, adding that hospitals were overwhelmed.

He said the police had been targeted and stressed the need to reactivate the machinery that used to drive terrorism.

Asif assured the people that the law and order situation in KP will be restored as measures are taken.

The defense minister said that even though they were receiving threats, people could not be prevented from entering the mosque. He revealed that no one has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.

Medical emergency stored in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Caretaker Muhammad Azam Khan announced the introduction of medical emergency in major hospitals in Peshawar. The interim CM further ordered all rescue organizations to speed up rescue operations.

The CM directed to make immediate arrangements to take the injured to the hospital and directed the authorities concerned to provide timely medical assistance to the injured who are being taken to the hospitals.

Security in Islamabad is on high alert

After the explosion in Peshawar, the Inspector General of Islamabad, Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan orders to put security in the federal capital on high alert.

In addition, surveillance has been increased at all entry and exit points in the city, while monitoring is carried out by the Safe City Capital Islamabad Command and Control Centre.

Snipers were also deployed in important ports and buildings.