Dozens of individuals have been killed in a bomb assault concentrating on a mosque in a safety compound within the northwestern Pakistani metropolis of Peshawar, based on authorities.
Muhammed Asim, a spokesperson for the Girl Studying Hospital in Peshawar, instructed Al Jazeera on Tuesday that 92 folks had died.
He mentioned that, out of the greater than 170 injured folks taken to hospital, 52 injured folks have been nonetheless receiving therapy and 6 remained in crucial situation.
Siddique Khan, a police official, mentioned the attacker blew himself up whereas among the many worshippers. Authorities mentioned greater than 90 p.c of the casualties have been police officers.
Sarbakaf Mohmand, a commander for the Pakistan Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban, or TTP), initially claimed duty for the assault on Twitter.
However hours later, TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani distanced the group from the bombing, saying it was not its coverage to focus on mosques, seminaries and spiritual locations. His didn’t tackle why a TTP commander had claimed duty for the bombing.
“Tehreek-e-Taliban has nothing to do with this assault,” a TTP assertion mentioned.
The mosque is positioned inside a extremely fortified compound that features the headquarters of the provincial police pressure and a counterterrorism division.
Authorities mentioned a part of the constructing collapsed and that many individuals have been feared to be trapped underneath the rubble.
Peshawar’s Police Chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan mentioned in a televised assertion that the capability of the principle corridor of the mosque was practically 300 and it was “practically full” on the time of the explosion.
At the least 17 folks have reportedly been killed and dozens injured after a bomb blast at a busy mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar, say native officers ⤵️
🔗: https://t.co/R5q74scIjW pic.twitter.com/YWynAHGu00
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 30, 2023
The mosque is inside Peshawar’s Police Traces, an space that’s a part of the town’s purple zone the place plenty of essential authorities installations are, together with the Chief Minister Home, Governor Home, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial meeting constructing.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, mentioned that “the suicide bomber [was reportedly] sitting within the entrance row of the congregational prayers contained in the mosque”.
Shahid Ali, a policeman who survived the assault, mentioned the explosion befell seconds after the prayers began.
“I noticed black smoke rising to the sky. I ran out to save lots of my life,” the 47-year-old instructed the AFP information company.
“The screams of the persons are nonetheless echoing in my thoughts,” he added. “Individuals have been screaming for assist.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing as an “assault on Pakistan”. He promised “stern motion” towards these behind the assault.
Whereas the ache of the grieving households can’t be described in phrases, I categorical my heartfelt condolences & most honest sympathies. My message to the perpetrators of as we speak’s despicable incident is you can’t underestimate the resolve of our folks. https://t.co/edUJ6SbP3M
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 30, 2023
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to denounce the bombing.
“Strongly condemn the terrorist suicide assault in police traces mosque Peshawar throughout prayers,” he tweeted.
“It’s crucial we enhance our intelligence gathering and correctly equip our police forces to fight the rising menace of terrorism.”
Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, has skilled frequent assaults.
Final March, a suicide bomber focused a mosque there, killing 64 in what was Pakistan’s deadliest assault since 2018. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-Ok) claimed duty for the bombing.
Pakistan has seen a surge in violence over the past yr, with quite a few assaults on legislation enforcement officers, notably in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in addition to the southern province of Balochistan.
In November final yr, the TTP, which has been waging a riot towards Pakistan for greater than a decade, unilaterally ended a ceasefire with the Pakistani state.
In 2022 alone, Pakistan’s monitoring companies recorded greater than 150 assaults launched by the TTP – a gaggle ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban – that struck throughout the nation and killed dozens of individuals.
Authorities worry the return to energy of the Taliban in Afghanistan has emboldened the TTP and led to its resurgence.
The group calls for the imposition of their hardline interpretation of Islamic legislation, the discharge of members arrested by the federal government, and a reversal of the merger of Pakistan’s tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Al Jazeera’s Abid Hussain contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan.
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