PESHAWAR: At least 57 worshipers have lost their lives, while more than 200 others have been injured in a suicide bomb attack during Friday prayers at a mosque in Qissa Khwani Bazaar in the Kocha Risaldar area of Peshawar, police and rescue workers said.
The rescue teams have rushed the injured to Lady Reading Hospital, while residents and people of the neighbourhood also helped in transporting the injured on their motorcycles and cars.
According to latest reports soon after the explosion police and rescue teams reached the spot and rescue operation is underway as many injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals.
The police and bomb disposal Squad has started the operation to ascertain the way of explosion and collect the samples to trace the terrorists behind the blast.
“After that, he quickly entered the [mosque’s] main hall and blew himself up in front of the pulpit. Following this, there were bodies and injured people lying everywhere,” the eyewitness told media.
“The prayer hall o the mosque was filled with people; they were on the bottom and top floors; the incident took place at 12:55pm,” he said.
He said the people took the injured worshipers to the hospital via motorcycles as rescue workers faced hindrances, while arriving at the site due to congested alleys.
The man claimed recently a hand grenade attack targeted a house in the area, after which residents had urged the authorities to beef up security. “But still, it did not happen […] the security has been reduced.”
More than 200 people have been injured in the explosion out of which condition of 20 people have been prounced as critical, said the spokesperson of Lady Reading Hospital. He added that the death toll in the bomb explosion go up.
According to police, a suicide bomber blew himself up inside the mosque during Friday prayers and a powerful explosion took place during the prayers.
Peshawar SSP Operations Haroon Al-Rasheed told the media that apparently it was a suicide attack.
Confirming the details, CCPO Peshawar Mohammad Ejaz said that two terrorists opened fire at the policemen and tried to enter the mosque. “The blast took place after an attack on policemen”, he added.
“There were two security personnel deputed at the entrance of the mosque. One of them died during the exchange of fire while the other is seriously injured”, he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, and other political leaders condemned the blast.
Moreover, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also issued a statement. “We stand with the aggrieved families. The sacrifices of the nation and security agencies are unforgettable,” he said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, too, condemned the blast and sought a report from the KP inspector-general of police.
The chief minister instructed the rescue workers to speed up the rescue operation and ordered provincial cabinet members to monitor the operations.
Former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, JUI-F President Maulana Fazlur Rehman we’re among the others who condemned the unfortunate incident.
“Terrorists are the enemy of the country and nation, which have to be crushed,” Zardari said while praying for the quick recovery of the injured.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Ameer Jamiat Ulema e Islam Fazl (JUI-F) in his condolence message, demanded immediate medical aid for the wounded.
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