Following the Peshawar assault, Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed on Friday that the government has “all the information on the origins” of the terrorists involved in the blast and that the government is “pursuing” the perpetrators “with full might.”
PM Imran Khan tweeted, “Have personally been watching operations and coordinating with CTD and agencies in the aftermath of the cowardly terrorist attack on Peshawar Imambargah.”
“My heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, and prayers for the injured’s recovery.” PM Imran added, “I have instructed the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to personally visit the families and see to their requirements.”
According to police and rescue personnel, a suicide bomb strike during Friday prayers at a mosque in Qissa Khwani market in the Kocha Risaldar neighbourhood of Peshawar killed at least 57 worshipers and injured almost 200 others.
Residents and neighbours assisted in taking the injured on their motorcycles and cars, while emergency personnel took the injured to Lady Reading Hospital.
The blast was condemned by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, and other political heavyweights.
The area has been blocked off by police and security teams, who have begun collecting evidence.
‘Terrorists first targeted cops outside the mosque,’ said Inspector-General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Moazzam Jah Ansari, speaking to journalists at the scene of the attack. A hawaldar and a police constable were on duty outside the mosque, he said.
“The terrorist was on his own and had walked to the mosque,” he said.
“He went after the two police officers assigned to the mosque. “One of them chose martyrdom, while the other was wounded.”
After killing the police officers, the terrorist fled to the mosque, according to Ansari.
“After entering the mosque, the terrorist opened fire on the worshippers before blowing himself up,” the IG stated, adding that roughly 150 ball bearings were discovered from the scene of the attack.
Ansari went on to say that roughly five to six kilogrammes of explosives were utilised in the blast, which took place in the mosque’s third row.
“The terrorist purposefully wore a black suit to conceal the explosives,” Ansari added, adding that the police had a suspicion about a terrorist group.
“We will apprehend the perpetrators as soon as possible,” he had stated.
‘Suicide attack’ is a term used to describe a person who commits suicide
Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the advisor to KP Chief Minister, said the explosion occurred during Friday prayers in a statement to the media.
“According to reports, the terrorists attempted to enter the mosque and exchanged fire with police,” stated Barrister Saif.
According to him, a terrorist was able to gain into the mosque and carry out the attack.
A suicide bomber detonated his device in front of the pulpit, according to eyewitnesses.
An eyewitness described the suicide bomber as a man dressed in black who entered the mosque, shot and killed the security guard first, then discharged five to six shots.
“He then dashed into the [mosque’s] main hall and detonated a bomb in front of the pulpit.” “Bodies and injured people were lying everywhere after that,” the eyewitness told Geo News.
“The hall was packed; people were on the first and second floors; the incident occurred at 12:55 p.m.,” he stated.
People drove the injured worshipers to the hospital on motorcycles, he claimed, because emergency officials couldn’t get to the scene owing to clogged lanes.
Residents had pushed officials to strengthen up security after a hand grenade attack targeted a residence in the vicinity, according to the guy. “However, it did not take place […] security has been reduced.”
