Bomb slaughters 60 during prayers
PESHAWAR: More than 60 people, most of them police, have been killed in a blast at a mosque inside a highly sensitive Pakistan police headquarters, prompting the government to put the entire country on high alert.
The attack happened during afternoon worship in the northern provincial capital of Peshawar, close to former tribal areas along the Afghan border where militancy has been steadily rising.
A frantic rescue mission was under way at the mosque, which had an entire wall and some of its roof blown out by the suspected suicide attack.
“Many policemen are buried under the rubble,” said Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan, who estimated between 300 and 400 officers usually attended prayers at the mosque. “Efforts are being made to get them out safely,” he added.
Bloodied survivors emerged limping from the wreckage, while bodies were ferried away in ambulances.
“It’s an emergency situation,” said Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for the main hospital in Peshawar.
The death toll continued to rise as more bodies were pulled from the debris, rising to 61 killed with more than 150 wounded, many critically, prompting fears the toll would worsen.
As darkness fell on Monday night, several men were still trapped in the wreckage, visible through cracks in the concrete. “We have given them oxygen so that they don’t have problems in breathing,” said Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesperson for the rescue organisation 1122.
At least 20 of the killed police officers were later buried after a ceremony, their coffins lined up in rows and draped in the Pakistani flag.
They were laid to rest with a guard of honour.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, amid a worsening security situation in the country.
The police headquarters in Peshawar is in one of the most tightly controlled areas of the city, housing intelligence and counter-terrorism bureaus, and is next door to the regional secretariat. Provinces around the country announced they were on high alert after the blast, with checkpoints ramped up and extra security forces deployed, while in the capital Islamabad snipers were deployed on buildings and at city entrance points.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Officers said the blast came from the second row of worshippers, leading police to believe it was a suicide attack.
Shahid Ali, a policeman who survived, said the explosion took place seconds after the imam started prayers.
“I saw black smoke rising to the sky. I ran out to save my life,” the 47-year-old said. “The screams of the people are still echoing in my mind.”
The security breach came on the day United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had been due to visit Islamabad, although the trip was cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather.
Pakistan is also preparing to host an International Monetary Fund delegation on Tuesday as it works towards unlocking a vital bailout loan to prevent a looming default.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the blast as “abhorrent” and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended his condolences for the “horrific attack”.