Islamabad [Pakistan], January 30 (ANI): The death toll in the Peshawar Police Lines mosque suicide blast has climbed to 90 taking the toll of injured to at least 147, Geo News reported.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has taken responsibility for the attack.
According to security officials, the suicide bomber was in the first row during the Zuhr prayer when he blew himself up, hurting dozens of worshippers. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has headed for Peshawar, where he will be informed on all aspects of the bombing, Geo News reported citing a statement from the PM Office. PM Shehbaz will also pay visits to those injured in the explosion.
The casualties were confirmed by Peshawar Commissioner Riaz Mehsood, who also stated that a rescue attempt was ongoing within the mosque. “An emergency has been imposed at hospitals across the city and injured persons are being provided the best medical facilities,” Dawn reported citing the senior official as saying. Those who are injured in the blast, are reportedly said to be in critical condition.
The blast took place in the mosque located in the Police Lines area of Peshawar during afternoon prayers. The security officials said that the suicide attacker was present in the front row during the prayers when he exploded himself, as per local media reports. The injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital of Peshawar for treatment.
An eyewitness said that there were at least 120 people in the mosque when the explosion took place. He said that the injured mostly included police personnel.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has taken responsibility for the attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan announced a day of mourning in the province on Tuesday following the attack, as per the news report. He said that the national flag will be at half-mast across the province.
Azam Khan also assured the aggrieved families that the provincial government will not leave them alone in the aftermath of the tragedy. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Peshawar where he was informed of all aspects of the bombing and he also visited the injured, according to The News International.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said that “investigations are underway” about how the attack took place and how the terrorist entered the vicinity. “Don’t know where the attacker came from and how he entered?” The News International quoted Jah Ansari as saying. “There are family quarters inside the Police Lines and the attacker could be already living in the area,” he further said.
Earlier, two more bodies were recovered from the rubble, The News International reported citing an official of Rescue 1122, as per The News International report. The official added that the services recovered five people trapped under the wreckage. The spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital Muhammad Asim said that 157 injured people were brought to the medical facility after the explosion.
“Two injured and three dead bodies have been retrieved from the rubble,” The News International quoted the rescue spokesperson Bilal Faizi as saying.
Muhammad Asim said that the bodies of 83 people have been shifted to the hospital. Around 55 injured people were being treated at the Lady Reading Hospital, as per the news report. After the attack, the injured were moved to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar. The hospital requested people to donate blood for the victims.
“Bodies of 83 people were also transferred to the hospital. At the moment, around 55 injured are getting treatment at the Lady Reading Hospital. Some of the injured are critical, while the condition of most is satisfactory,” The News International quoted Muhammad Asim as saying, adding that most people among the injured and dead included police officers.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the terrorist attack on worshippers in Pakistan’s Peshawar. He tweeted, “Canadians strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on worshipers in Peshawar, Pakistan. My thoughts are with the victims and those who are grieving during this terribly difficult time.” (ANI)
