By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A blast at a mosque inside a police headquarters in Peshawar on Monday killed at least 28 people and wounded another 120, police and hospital officials said.
The blast happened when the mosque was packed with worshippers for afternoon prayers. A section of the building was destroyed, and officials feared scores of people are buried under the rubble.
Many of the casualties were police officers. There were at least 260 people inside the mosque at the time of explosion, police said.
Peshawar’s police chief Ijaz Khan said the possibility of a suicide bombing could not be ruled out and traces of explosives were found inside the mosque.
“We cannot at the moment confirm there was a suicide attacker but we need to conduct more investigations,” Khan told reporters. “However, there is a possibility of there being a suicide bomber.”
He said a number of policemen were still stuck under the rubble and rescuers were trying to pull them out. “The smell of explosives has been detected but it is too early to say anything substantial.”
Mohammad Asim, a spokesman for the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, said several of those injured were in a critical condition. “We have received dead bodies. It’s an emergency situation,” Asim told reporters.
Witnesses said part of the mosque roof and wall had collapsed and bloodied survivors limped from the wreckage, as dead bodies were ferried away in ambulances.
Peshawar deputy commissioner Shafiullah Khan said the rescue work is ongoing. “More bodies are being taken out. Currently our priority is to save people buried under the debris.”
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, known as the Pakistan Taliban, has carried out a number of suicide attacks in the past, targeting security personnel.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, and ordered authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment to the victims. He also vowed “stern action” against those who were behind the attack.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan,” Sharif said.
The premier paid tribute to the martyrs and promised that their sacrifices will not go in vain. “The entire nation is standing united against the menace of terrorism.”
Former prime minister Imran Khan also condemned the bombing, calling it a “terrorist suicide attack” in a Twitter posting. “My prayers and condolences go to victims families,” said the ex-premier. “It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”
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