A suicide bomber struck a crowded mosque inside Police Lines compound in Peshawar on Monday, causing the roof to collapse and claiming the lives of at least 61 people and injuring more than 150 others, local media reported quoting officials as saying.
According to the media report, the powerful blast occurred inside the mosque in the Police Lines area around 1.40 pm when worshippers, which included personnel of the police, army, and bomb disposal squad – were offering the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers,
The bomber who was present in the front row blew himself up, causing the roof to collapse on the worshippers, local media reported quoting officials as saying.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Muhammad Ijaz Khan said 61 people have been killed in the blast.
He said that 300 to 400 police officials were present in the area at the time of the blast. “It is apparent that a security lapse occurred,” he told the media.
Most of the injured from the blast were police officers, the police said.
According to the media reports, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, saying it was part of a revenge attack for slain TTP commander Umar Khalid Khurasani who was killed in Afghanistan in August last.
Pakistanis are taking to social media to extend their condolences and condemn the attack on innocent citizens during prayers in the mosque and in the name of Islam as the worst of acts.
The funeral prayers of the police officers who were killed in the Peshawar Police Lines mosque blast were performed with official honors.
(With inputs from agencies)
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
