Death toll in Peshawar mosque blast rises to 47, TTP claims responsibility

The dying toll in a blast at a mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar on Monday has risen to 47, the town’s Lady Reading Hospital stated. At least 150 others have been injured.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the suicide assault.

The blast occurred at a mosque inside a police headquarters round 1.40 pm when worshippers, which included personnel of the police, military and bomb disposal squad – have been providing the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers. The bomber who was current in the entrance row blew himself up, officers stated.

The Lady Reading Hospital stated no less than 47 have died thus far. The victims have been principally policemen and safety officers.

Pakistan Taliban claims responsibility

A brother of the slain commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Umar Khalid Khurasani claimed that the suicide blast was a part of the revenge assault for his brother who was killed final August in Afghanistan.

The outlawed TTP, often known as the Pakistani Taliban, has carried out a variety of suicide assaults in the previous, concentrating on safety personnel.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief General Asim Munir rushed to Peshawar to evaluate the reduction and rescue operation.

The duo additionally visited the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar and inquired after the well being of the injured. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and different officers have been additionally current.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted that the premier summoned an emergency assembly.

She stated that each one related establishments have been directed to attend the assembly which is able to look into the motives behind the terrorist assault. The preliminary probe report can be introduced in the assembly.

Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Peshawar, Shazad Kaukab, whose workplace is shut to the mosque, informed the media that the blast occurred when he simply entered the mosque to supply prayers. He stated he fortunately survived the assault.

A police official stated {that a} portion of the mosque collapsed and a number of other folks have been believed to be beneath it.

“We are currently focused on the rescue operation. Our first priority is to safely retrieve the people buried under the debris,” in-charge Rescue operation Bilal Faizi informed the media.

The headquarters of the Peshawar Police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Frontier Reserve Police (FRP), Elite Force and telecommunications division are additionally situated close to the blast website.

The bomber entered the extremely secured mosque inside police strains the place 4 layers of safety have been in place.

Quoting Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Muhammad Ijaz Khan, Dawn newspaper stated that a variety of jawans are nonetheless caught beneath the rubble and rescuers are attempting to pull them out.

Khan stated between 300 to 400 police officers have been current in the realm on the time of the blast. “It is apparent that a security lapse occurred,” he informed the media.

Terrorists need to create concern by concentrating on those that carry out the obligation of defending Pakistan, he stated and vowed that the sacrifices of the blast victims won’t go in useless. The total nation is standing united in opposition to the menace of terrorism.” He additionally stated {that a} complete technique will likely be adopted to counter the deteriorating legislation and order scenario in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the federal authorities will assist provinces in growing their anti-terrorism capability.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari additionally condemned the assault, saying “terrorist incidents before the local and general elections were meaningful”.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali condemned the blast and urged the folks to donate blood for the injured, saying that it could be a “large favour for the police.

The injured have been shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital, officers stated.

An emergency has been declared in the hospitals of Peshawar. The hospital has appealed to residents to donate blood for the victims.

Security beefed up in Islamabad, different cities

Security has been beefed up in different main cities, together with Islamabad, after the Peshawar blast. In Islamabad, safety in any respect entry and exit factors of the capital metropolis has been elevated and snipers have been deployed at “important points and buildings”.

Caretaker CM Azam Khan condemned the assault and provided condolences to the bereaved households.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the terrorist assault in the mosque.

“My prayers and condolences go to victims’ families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism,” he tweeted.

Last 12 months, an identical assault inside a Shia mosque in the Kocha Risaldar space in the town killed 63 folks.

Blast after TTP ended ceasefire with govt

The TTP, arrange as an umbrella group of a number of terror outfits in 2007, just lately referred to as off a ceasefire with the federal authorities and ordered assaults throughout the nation.

The group, which is believed to be shut to al-Qaeda, has been blamed for a number of lethal assaults throughout Pakistan, together with an assault on military headquarters in 2009, assaults on army bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban stormed the Army Public School (APS) in the northwestern metropolis of Peshawar, killing no less than 150 folks, together with 131 college students. The assault despatched shockwaves the world over and was extensively condemned.

With inputs from companies

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