PESHAWAR/Islamabad
At least 60 people were martyred and more than 157 were injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines during afternoon prayers on Monday, security and health officials said.
Security officials, confirming that it was a suicide attack, said the bomber was standing in the front row at the time of the explosion.
Confirming the number of casualties, CCPO Mohammad Aijaz said some victims were still trapped under the rubble, adding that the roof and part of the mosque’s wall collapsed following the explosion.
A spokesperson for Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, Mohammad Asim, confirmed that dozens of injured have been brought to the medical facility.
He added that the injured included police officials. “Some of the injured are in critical condition but most are stable,” said the hospital spokesperson, adding that more injured are being shifted to the hospital. The hospital also issued an appeal for blood donations.
Following the bombing, the provincial health department declared an emergency in district Peshawar and asked all medical personnel to remain on duty.
Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the attack site and have started an initial investigation. The GT Road near Bala Hisar was also closed to traffic.
Funeral prayers
Funeral prayers of martyrs of mosque blast were offered in Peshawar Police Line.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other top security officials attended the funeral prayers.
Preliminary report
A preliminary investigation report on the suicide attack has been submitted to the prime minister.
The report said evidence collected from the scene confirmed that the explosion in the police line was a suicide attack.
Further investigation is underway on the CCTV footage of Police Line gate and family quarters, it added.
The roof collapsed because the explosion damaged the pillars of the mosque, according to the initial investigation.
A high-level committee has also been set up to probe any security lapse, read the report.
New security guidelines
Following the deadly blast at Peshawar Police Line, security guidelines have also been changed for Civil Secretariat.
Department of Administrative Affairs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has issued a declaration regarding the new guidelines.
Vehicles entering Civil Secretariat will go through a thorough security check which include inspection of car’s bonnet and trunk.
