Peshawar mosque suicide blast : death toll rises to 100

The death toll in the suicide bombing in Peshawar mosque rose to 100 while more than fifty were injured, several of them in critical condition.

On Monday afternoon, a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a crowded mosque next to the Police Lines in Peshawar, in a highly fortified security compound, the latest in a string of attacks targeting police.It is believed more than 200 people were inside the mosque when the incident took place.

Reports indicated a part of the mosque was heavily damaged due to the explosion and several people were believed to be under it, resulting in higher casualties.

Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) statement details shows that 100 dead bodies had been brought to the medical facility and 53 injured citizens were currently being treated seven of whom had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. It later distanced itself from it but sources earlier indicated that it might have been the handiwork of some local faction of the outlawed group.

Capital City Police Officer, Peshawar (CCPO) Ejaz Khan said,”We cannot say with surety but there is a smell of explosives inside the mosque.”

Peshawar Division Commissioner Riaz Mehsud said that the rescue and search operation at the blast site has been completed, after almost 24 hours.

Authorities say they do not know how the bomber managed to enter the area, which is protected by a series of checkpoints manned by police and military personnel.

KP Inspector General (IG) Mauzzam Jah Ansari said that the most pertinent question at the moment was how a “suicide bomber” was able to enter Police Lines and go to the mosque.

It will be an multi-agency JIT comprising intelligence, police, and other security officials. The team will be led by a senior DIG who won’t be a member of the Peshawar police, he said.The Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan had constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the attack.

Funeral of Martyrs

The funeral prayers for six policemen, including deputy superintendent of police Arab Nawaz and Ismatullah, were offered earlier today (Tuesday)at the Police Lines area.

On Monday night, collective funeral prayers for 27 police martyrs were offered in Peshawar’s Police Lines area with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Mauzzam Jah Ansari, army officers and officials of civil administration in attendance.