Jump to content

2023 Peshawar mosque bombing

Coordinates: 34°00′47″N 71°33′34″E / 34.01306°N 71.55944°E / 34.01306; 71.55944
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 90.112.56.6 (talk) at 17:02, 31 January 2023 (→‎Attack). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2023 Peshawar mosque bombing
Part of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Internal view of the mosque after the attack
LocationPolice Lines area, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Coordinates34°00′47″N 71°33′34″E / 34.01306°N 71.55944°E / 34.01306; 71.55944
Date30 January 2023 (2023-01-30)
13:30[1] (PKT)
TargetPolice officers
Attack type
Suicide attack
Deaths100+
Injured220+
PerpetratorsUnknown

On 30 January 2023 at around 1:30 p.m. PKT, a suicide bombing took place inside a mosque in the Police Lines area of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The attacker detonated the bomb during the solar noon Zuhr prayers, killing at least 100 people and injuring over 220 others, including seven in critical conditions.[2]

Background

Main article: Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In 2004, Islamist attacks intensified into a war between Islamist insurgents and the Pakistani government in northwest Pakistan. The war scaled down to a low-level conflict in 2017.[3] Many insurgent attacks have been carried out in Peshawar, which is the capital and largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in northwest Pakistan. These include the attacks at mosques in 2013, 2015, and 2022.[4]

Attack

The mosque is located inside a high-security compound that includes the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counter-terrorism department.[5] The suicide bomber passed multiple barricades manned by the local police without being detected.[6] Between 300 and 400 police officials were present in the mosque at the time to offer their Zuhr prayers.[7]

The bomber triggered the suicide vest while standing in the first row of those praying, causing a powerful blast which collapsed the mosque's roof.[6] A policeman who survived the attack said that he saw “a huge burst of flames” before he was surrounded by a plume of black dust.[2] Over 100 were killed, and twice as many were injured; 90% of the casualties were police officers.[5]

Perpetrator

The identity of the suicide bomber is unknown.[8]

Two low-level officials of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the TTP and said that it was in revenge for the assassination of Omar Khalid Khorasani.[4][8] Subsequently, the group, through its spokesperson, denied its involvement.[4][8]

Reactions

Domestic

Shehbaz Sharif, the incumbent Pakistani Prime Minister, condemned the attack, stating that the attack is incompatible with Islam and that the entirety of Pakistan stands against the "menace of terrorism".[9] Former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the bombing, saying, "It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."[10]

A number of Pakistani celebrities condemned the bombing, including Hamza Ali Abbasi, Naseem Shah, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam[failed verification], Adnan Siddiqui, and Saba Qamar.[11]

International

The attack drew condemnation from outside Pakistan, including India[12], Canada,[13] the United States,[14][15] the European Union and Saudi Arabia.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 47". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Mehsud, Sophia Saifi,Rhea Mogul,Saleem (31 January 2023). "Death toll from blast in Pakistan mosque rises to at least 100 as country faces 'national security crisis'". CNN. Retrieved 31 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Lieven, Anatol (2017). "Counter-Insurgency in Pakistan: The Role of Legitimacy". Small Wars & Insurgencies. 28: 166–190. doi:10.1080/09592318.2016.1266128. S2CID 151355749.
  4. ^ a b c Mehsud, Sophia Saifi, Saleem (30 January 2023). "Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for mosque blast that killed more than 40 people". CNN. Retrieved 30 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "Rescue operation continues after Pakistan blast that killed 92". Al Jazeera. 31 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b Ahmed, Jibran (30 January 2023). "Suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan kills 59, targeted police". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 59". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "North-west Pakistan in grip of deadly Taliban resurgence". the Guardian. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: At least 28 killed after an explosion in Peshawar". BBC News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Suicide bomber kills 20, wounds 96 at mosque in NW Pakistan". The Washington Post. 30 January 2023. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Pakistan celebrities condemn attack on Peshawar mosque". Business Recorder. 31 January 2023.
  12. ^ Prakash, Aryan (31 January 2023). "India condemns Peshawar mosque attack, condoles families of deceased". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Death toll in Pak's Peshawar suicide blast in mosque jumps to 83: Report". Businesss Standard. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. ^ "At least 59 killed, 157 injured in explosion inside mosque near Police Lines in Peshawar". Brecorder. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Pakistan blames 'security lapse' for mosque blast, 100 dead". Associated Press. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Saudi Arabia condemns suicide attack on Pakistan mosque". Arab News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Breaking: At Least 90 Injured In Blast Inside Peshawar Mosque In Pakistan". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Peshawar_mosque_bombing&oldid=1136689270"