Peshawar: The number of martyrs, including the imam of the mosque and police personnel, has increased to 47, while more than 140 people have been injured in a suicide blast during noon prayer in the police lines mosque.
The condition of more than 15 is critical. The two-story building of the mosque was destroyed by the explosion. According to the security officials, the attacker was in the first row of the worshipers. Three people were pulled out from under the rubble of the mosque. There is a risk of being buried, rescue operation is going on with heavy machinery.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital has released the list of martyred and injured people in the blast according to which 47 people were martyred and more than 140 were injured in the blast.
Among the martyrs are 5 sub-inspectors, front imam of the mosque Sahibzada Nurul Amin, a woman and other people. The woman was lodged in the police quarters adjacent to the mosque.
The hospital administration says that the identity of the three deceased persons has not yet been ascertained.
According to Rescue, there was an explosion inside the mosque in the Sadar Police Lines area of ​​Peshawar, the sound of the explosion was so intense that it was heard far away, in which many people were injured, while after the explosion, gunshots were also heard in the area.
Rescue says that after the explosion, the rescue personnel reached the spot and the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital, while the officials of the law enforcement agencies also reached the spot, the security personnel sealed the area.
The management of Lady Reading Hospital says that there is a dire need of blood in the hospital, citizens are requested to donate as much blood as possible.
According to the Deputy Commissioner, the injured in Lady Reading Hospital are in dire need of O-negative blood, so those with O-negative blood should donate blood as soon as possible.
The blast occurred during the noon prayer, the attacker was in the front row: security officials
According to the rescue sources, the explosion took place in the mosque of Police Lines during the Zuhr prayer due to which many worshipers in the mosque were injured.
Eyewitnesses say that the explosion occurred when prayers were being offered in the mosque.
According to the sources, due to the collapse of the roof of the mosque due to the explosion, there is also a fear of many people being buried under the debris.
After the explosion, the roof of the mosque came down and the mosque collapsed
Security officials say that the explosion in the police lines was a suicide attack and the suicide bomber was in the first row of the mosque and blew himself up during prayers.
After the explosion, the roof of the mosque came down and the mosque collapsed.
According to the sources, Police Lines Sadar area is in Red Zone which is considered a sensitive area with sensitive buildings nearby while CTD office is also in Police Lines, Peshawar Police Chief and DI in this area. There is also an office of GCTD.
Such an incident in the police line seems like a security lapse: CCPO
Talking to the media in Peshawar, Ejaz Khan said that the police cannot rule out the possibility of a suicide blast in Lines mosque during prayers.
The CCPO said that such an incident in the police line seems to be a lack of security, the main hall of the mosque has been destroyed by the blast, but it would be premature to say anything about the blast.
Caretaker Chief Minister’s directive to speed up relief activities
Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Azam Khan directed to impose emergency in hospitals and speed up relief activities after the Peshawar blast.
Condemnation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman PTI Imran Khan have strongly condemned the Peshawar blast.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Peshawar blast and said that the brutal killing of Muslims while prostrating before Allah is against the teachings of the Quran, targeting the house of Allah is proof that the attackers have nothing to do with Islam.
The Prime Minister said that the terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who are performing the duty of defending Pakistan, they will erase those who fight against Pakistan from the page and make a lesson for those who shed the blood of innocent citizens.
He said that the entire nation and institutions are one and united for the end of terrorism, the entire nation pays its respects to its martyrs.
Condemnation of Chairman PTI Imran Khan
Chairman PTI Imran Khan condemned the blast and said that his prayers are with the affected families.
He said that to deal with the growing threat of terrorism, it is necessary that we improve our intelligence, equip the police with necessary equipment in a proper manner.
