At the very least 39 killed, 150 injured in explosion inside mosque close to Police Traces in Peshawar

At the very least 39 individuals had been killed and 150 injured after an explosion in a mosque subsequent to the Police Traces in Peshawar on Monday.

The explosion passed off when individuals gathered within the mosque for afternoon prayers.

Quickly after the blast, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the spot and cordoned it off. A number of ambulances have shifted the injured to the Girl Studying Hospital.

Mohammad Asim, a spokesman for the Girl Studying Hospital in Peshawar, informed Reuters they’d obtained 90 injured, a few of them in vital situation.

Experiences point out part of the mosque was closely broken because of the explosion and several other individuals had been believed to be below it. Footage confirmed police and residents scrambling to take away particles from the blast web site and carrying wounded individuals on their shoulders.

The mosque is positioned in a extremely fortified space of town that homes police workplaces and residences. Peshwar, which sits on the fringe of Pakistan’s tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, is regularly focused by militant teams together with the Pakistani Taliban.

Whereas speaking to the media, Capital Metropolis Police Officer, Peshawar (CCPO) Ejaz Khan mentioned that it was too early to say something as many individuals are nonetheless trapped below the rubble. Between 300 to 400 police officers had been current within the space on the time of the blast, he mentioned.

“We can’t say with surety however there’s a odor of explosives contained in the mosque,” mentioned the CCPO.

An emergency has been imposed within the locality. Islamabad Inspector Basic Dr Akbar Nasir Khan issued instructions for a “safety high-alert”. In a tweet, Islamabad Police mentioned safety in any respect entry and exit factors of town has been elevated and monitoring was being executed via the “Protected Metropolis” system.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly denounced the blast and mentioned that concentrating on the mosque is proof that the attackers don’t have anything to do with Islam.

He mentioned a complete technique shall be adopted on the deteriorating legislation and order state of affairs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including that the middle will cooperate in rising the anti-terrorism capability of the provinces, as per Radio Pakistan.

Following the incident, the premier, accompanied by Inside Minister Rana Sanaullah and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, arrived in Peshawar. He’ll preside over a high-level assembly concerning the legislation and order state of affairs within the province.

Overseas Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari mentioned that “terrorist incidents earlier than the native and basic elections had been significant”.

In a tweet, Pakistan Peoples Celebration quoted Bilawal as saying that strict motion shall be taken in opposition to the terrorists, their patrons, and their facilitators.

The FM known as get together staff and position-holders to donate their blood to avoid wasting the lives of the injured.

Inside Minister Rana Sanaullah additionally took to Twitter and wrote that investigations of all points of the incident are underway.

“Federal establishments are absolutely supporting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities,” he mentioned.

In a tweet, PTI Chairman Imran Khan strongly condemned the “terrorist suicide assault” in Peshawar and expressed sympathies with the households of the victims.

Nationwide Meeting Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani additionally strongly condemned the explosion.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Maryam Nawaz additionally condemned the incident.

The US embassy in Islamabad prolonged its deepest condolences to the households of the victims of the horrific assault.

“The USA stands with Pakistan in condemning all types of terrorism,” the mission mentioned in its message.

The assault was town’s worst since March final yr when a suicide bombing at a mosque throughout Friday prayers killed no less than 58 individuals and injured almost 200. Islamic State militants claimed accountability for that bombing.