At least 30 people were killed and more than 50 injured were when a powerful blast ripped through an imambargah in Peshwar’s Kocha Risaldar area during Friday prayers.
Mohammad Aasim, spokesman of the Lady Reading Hospital, where victims have were brought, said they had received more than 30 bodies.
Speaking to the media, CCPO Peshawar Muhammad Aijaz Khan also confirmed the death toll of at least 30 and said that it was a suicide bombing.
He elaborated that according to initial reports, two attackers tried to enter the mosque. The police officers present on duty were fired at, which resulted in the death of one cop, while the other was seriously injured.
The blast inside the mosque occurred following the firing incident, he added. “Senior police officials have also reached the site,” the CCPO told the media.
Soon after the blast, a large contingent of law enforcement officials, including Pakistan Army personnel, reached the site and cordoned off the area. The bomb disposal squad also started its initial investigation.
The injured were shifted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, where the condition of some victims is said to be serious.
Condemnations
Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the suicide attack at the imambargah located near the Qissa Khwani Bazaar area of Peshawar and condemned the attack.
The premier also authorities to provide medical treatment to the injured and sought an inquiry report from the authorities concerned.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed confirmed that it was a suicide attack but admitted that the ministry had no prior information about the attack. The minister also confirmed that a policeman deployed outside the imambargah was killed when the terrorists opened fire before trying to enter the worship place.
“No threat alert was received … we had a meeting a couple of days ago but no threat was received; we had no information about it,” the interior minister said.A spokesperson of the ministry confirmed that “30 plus” people have so far lost their lives and over 50 people were injured.
The interior minister, while strongly condemning the terrorist incident, directed the chief secretary and IG KP to submit a report. He also expressed grief over the loss of lives due to the bomb attack and expresses sympathy with the families of the martyred worshipers.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, while condemning the Peshawar bomb blast, said that an investigation into the incident was underway and the public will be informed about the incident later on. He expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“Peshawar blast is part of a larger conspiracy,” said the information in a tweet and added that the country has fought such conspiracies in the past and, God willing, the enemies of Pakistan will fail again.
Source:tribune.com.pk/