A powerful a bomb exploded in a Shia Muslim mosque in North West Pakistan city of Peshawar on Friday, killing at least 45 worshipers and injuring some 65 others, many of criticize them, police said.
Peshawar Police Chief Muhammed Ejaz Khan said the violence started when two armed assailants opened fire on police outside the mosque in Peshawar is old city. An attacker and one policeman was killed in the shooting, and another policeman official was injured. The remaining attacker then ran inside the mosque and detonated a bomb.
local police official Waheed Khan said the blast happened as worshipers gathered in Kucha Risaldar Mosque for Friday prayers. the death the toll will probably be rise so much of the injured are in critical state, he added.
Ambulances rushed through the congested narrow streets to transport the injured to Lady Reading Hospital, where medics were working feverishly. At least 150 worshipers were inside the mosque at the time of the explosion, according to witnesses.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion, but both Daesh group and a Pakistani Taliban organization focused out similar attacks in the regionlocated near the border with neighboring Afghanistan.
Shayan Haider, a witness, was about to enter the mosque when a powerful the explosion threw him to the street.
“I opened my eyes and there was dust and bodies everywhere,” he said.
In the emergency department at Lady Reading Hospital, it was chaos as doctors struggled to move the many injuries in operating theaters. Hundreds of parents reunited outside the emergency department, many of moaning them and beating their chests, pleading for information on their loved ones.
Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack.
Retired Army Officer Sher Ali who was inside the mosque at the time of the explosion was injured by shrapnel. He made a fan plea in pakistani government for better protection of the country’s Shia Muslim minority.
“What is our sin? What have we done ? Aren’t we citizens? of this country?” he said from the emergency department, his white clothes splattered with some blood.
In predominantly Sunni Muslim Pakistan, the Shia Muslim minority has come under repeated attack.
In recent months, Pakistan has seen a sharp increase of violence. Dozens of military personnel Was killed in scores of attacks on army outposts along the border with Afghanistan. Much has been claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, who analysts say have been emboldened by the return of the Afghan Taliban to power last August.
Pakistan urged Afghanistan new leaders to deliver Pakistani Taliban insurgents who staged their attacks from Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban say their territory will not be used to stage attacks against anyonebut so far they haven’t delivered over all Pakistani insurgents.
