44 killed in Peshawar blast, TTP claims responsibility

The Report Desk

Published: January 30, 2023, 04:16 PM

44 killed in Peshawar blast, TTP claims responsibility

An explosion inside a mosque of Pakistan’s Peshawar Police Lines area on Monday claimed at least 44 lives and 157 more were injured, reports The Dawn.

Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson Mohammad Asim confirmed the number of casualties. He added that a number of injured persons were in critical condition.

The banned militant outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the blast.

Peshawar District Commissioner Riaz Mehsood said that an emergency has been declared at hospitals around the city, and injured people are receiving the finest medical care possible.  

According to police there were more casualties buried beneath the rubble at the mosque of Pakistan‍‍`s northwestern city of Peshawar.

A hospital official also said, many of the casualties were police officers who had gathered for daily prayers.

According to the eyewitnesses, the explosion took place at around 1:40pm as Zuhr prayers were being offered. A portion of the building had collapsed and several people — especially those standing in the front row during the prayers — were believed to be under it.

The mosque was located close to a police housing block, and there were some 260 people inside when the blast occurred, Reuters reported quoting police.

It is still unclear whether a bomb was planted in the mosque or if it was a suicide attack. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, reports Pakistani media outlets.

Speaking to the media, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Muhammad Ijaz Khan said, “The smell of explosives has been detected but it is too early to say anything substantial.”

“It is apparent that a security lapse occurred,” he added.

Last year on March 4, a deadly suicide bomb blast acknowledged by Islamic State (IS) shook Peshawar, as a Shia mosque in Kocha Risaldar area claimed 63 lives along with more than 200 injuries.

On October 27, 2020, a timed device killed at least eight madrasha students and about 120 others wounded at White Mosque located in Dir Colony on Ring Road area of the city.

Earlier on June 21, 2013, Suicide bomber killed 15 at a Peshawar mosque.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former premier Imran Khan among others strongly condemned the blast.

Moreover, Islamabad Inspector General Dr Akbar Nasir Khan issued directions for a “security high-alert” to be placed in the capital, a tweet by Islamabad Police said.

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