On Monday, in the high security zone in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Peshawar city, a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up during afternoon prayer in mosque which was packed with worshippers. This attack ended up killing at least 61 people and wounded more than 150 others, mostly policemen.
This blast occurred when worshippers including personnel of police, army and bomb disposal squad were offering the zuhr prayers.
According to the officials when the bomber who was presented in front row blew himself, it caused the roof to collapse on the worshippers
Suicide bomber attack and casualty
According to Lady Reading Hospital more than 150 people were injured in the blast.
Muhammad Ijaz Khan, a Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) in Peshawar, said that 61 persons had been killed in the blast.
According to him, 300-400 police officers were in the vicinity when the blast occurred. He also informed the reporters, “It is obvious that a security lapse happened.”
Mosque leader maulana Sahibzada Noorul Amim and at least 5 sub inspectors were killed during the blast.
According to officials roof of mosque collapsed and and it is reported that several people are still there underneath of it.
Pakistan Taliban claims responsibility for the deadly attack
To take revenge on TTP commander Umar Khalid Khurasani who was killed in Afghanistan last August, Pakistani Taliban attacked the mosque.
The TTP, which was created in 2007 as an umbrella organisation for a number of militant groups, broke off a cease-fire with the federal government and instructed its militants to carry out terrorist strikes across the nation.
Attacks on military bases, the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, and several other deadly attacks across Pakistan have been attributed to the organisation, which is thought to be affiliated with al-Qaeda. In 2009, an attack occurred on the army headquarters.
At least 150 people, including 131 pupils, were killed when the Pakistani Taliban invaded the Army Public School (APS) in the northwest city of Peshawar in 2014. This attack was widely criticised and shocked the entire world.
Investigation is taking place
Moazzam Jah Ansari, the head of the provincial police, said they are investigating into the blast and the bomber’s entry into the highly secured mosque.
Inside of police lines, where there were four layers of security, the bomber infiltrated the well guarded mosque.
He expressed his concerns that the police lines, where there are also family quarters, could have been the bomber’s residence before the blast.
The Peshawar Police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the Frontier Reserve Police (FRP), the Elite Force, and the Telecommunications Department have offices close to the bomb site.
Government is showing remorse
The attack was strongly condemned by Prime Minister Sharif, who stated that the attackers “had nothing to do with Islam.”
By targeting people who defend Pakistan, terrorists hope to instil fear, he said, promising that the victims of the blasts would not have given their lives in vain. “The entire country is unified in the fight against the terrorist threat.”
according to foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,Terrorist attacks before the local and general elections, were critical.
Haji Ghulam Ali, the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, condemned the blast and urged people to provide blood to the injured, stating that doing so would be a “great favour for the police.”
Azam Khan, the interim chief minister, condemned the attack and expressed sympathy to the grieving families.
Imran Khan, a former prime minister, vehemently criticized the terrorist attack at the mosque.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. To tackle the growing threat of terrorism, it is essential that we strengthen our information collection and adequately equip our police forces “Twitter was used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The prime minister, shebaz sharing and the general Asim minor, who is the head of the army dashed to Peshawar to review the relief and rescue operation.