2023 Peshawar mosque bombing
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| 2023 Peshawar mosque bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
| Location | Police Lines area, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 34°00′47″N 71°33′34″E / 34.01306°N 71.55944°E |
| Date | 30 January 2023 13:30 (PKT) |
| Target | Police officers |
Attack type | suicide bombing |
| Deaths | 34+[1] |
| Injured | 150+ |
On 30 January 2023, a suicide bombing took place inside a mosque in the Police Lines area of Peshawar, Pakistan. The attacker detonated the bomb during Zuhr prayers, killing at least 34 people and injuring over 150 others.[2]
Attack
The suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest in the inner courtyard of the mosque,[3] causing a powerful blast which resulted in the collapse of the mosque's roof. Despite security measures from police, the attacker was able to gain access to the mosque. According to police official Sikandar Khan, there were at least 260 people in the mosque at the time of the attack.[4]
The mosque was located inside a compound that includes the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counter-terrorism department. The majority of the victims were police officers.[4]
The government and health officials have taken measures to respond to the situation, including calling for blood donations for the victims. The investigation into the attack is ongoing.[5][6]
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack,[4] it is believed that the Pakistani Taliban is behind the attacks as a part of the on-going insurgency.[3]
Responses
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks stating that the attack is incompatible with Islam and that the entirety of Pakistan stands against the "menace of terrorism".[7]
The former Prime Minister Imran Khan has already condemned the bombing stating that "It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism".[8]
See also
References
- ^ Suicide bomber kills 34, wounds 150 at mosque in NW Pakistan
- ^ "Blast at mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar kills at least 28". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Pakistan mosque bombing: Dozens dead, scores injured as suicide bomber targets police in Peshawar". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Ahmed, Jibran (30 January 2023). "Suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan kills 32, targeted police". Reuters.
- ^ "At least 50 injured in Peshawar Police Line mosque blast". 30 January 2023.
- ^ "At least 17 martyred, over 90 injured in Peshawar mosque suicide blast".
- ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: At least 28 killed after explosion in Peshawar". BBC News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Suicide bomber kills 20, wounds 96 at mosque in NW Pakistan". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 30 January 2023.