More Than 90 People Killed In Suicide Attack In Pakistani Mosque

Click to see full-size image

On the morning of January 30, an explosion thundered in a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. So far, the number of casualties has reached 92 people. More than 200 people were injured in the explosion.

It was reported that the bomb was triggered by a suicide bomber. Siddique Khan, a police official, said the attacker blew himself up while among the worshippers. Al Jazeera reported, citing a policeman who survived the attack, that the explosion took place seconds after the prayers started.

The building partially collapsed. The rescue operation continues, the wreckage of the mosque is being dismantled. The number of victims may grow.

Click to see full-size image

Click to see full-size image

The explosion hit the mosque located in a highly fortified compound. This is part of the city’s red zone where a number of important government facilities are located, including the Chief Minister House, Governor House, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly building, as well as the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counterterrorism department.

That’s why there were a lot of police officers and servicemen in the mosque. Authorities said more than 90 percent of the casualties were police officials.

Muhammed Asim, a spokesperson for the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, told Al Jazeera that 92 people had died.

“Tehreek-e-Taliban has nothing to do with this attack,” a TTP statement said.

Sarbakaf Mohmand, a commander for the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), initially claimed responsibility for the attack. However, TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani later denied the group’s responsibility for the attack. He argued that this is not the policy of the TTP to target religious facilities.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• No Way The U.S., The U.K. & NATO Allow End Of Hostilities Between India And Pakistan
• Imran Khan Says Pakistan PM Sharif Was Involved In Recent Attempt On His Life
• Pakistan’s Former Prime Minister Wounded In Assassination Attempt (Videos)