Bomber breaches high security zone, kills over 60 worshippers at Police Line mosque in Pakistan

Tariq Butt, Correspondent / Agencies

A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a crowded mosque in a highly fortified security compound in Pakistan on Monday, causing the roof to collapse and killing at least 61 people, officials said. More than 170 worshippers were also injured. Most of the casualties were police officers.

Police said the attacker appeared to have passed through several barricades manned by security forces to get into the "Red Zone" compound that houses police and counter-terrorism offices in the volatile northwestern city of Peshawar.

The death toll continued to rise as more bodies were pulled from the debris, rising to 61 killed with more than 150 wounded.

Police said the attacker appeared to have passed through several barricades manned by security forces to get into the "Red Zone" compound that houses police and counter-terrorism offices in the volatile northwestern city of Peshawar.

Police said the attacker appeared to have passed through several barricades manned by security forces to get into the "Red Zone" compound that houses police and counter-terrorism offices in the volatile northwestern city of Peshawar.

"It was a suicide bombing," Peshawar Police Chief Ijaz Khan told Reuters. At least 60 people were killed and 176 wounded, he said, many of them critically.

Sarbakaf Mohmand, a commander for the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter. The main spokesman for the militant group was not immediately available for comment.

A view shows the aftermath of a suicide blast in a mosque in Peshawar. Reuters

Peshawar Commissioner Riaz Mehsood confirmed the casualties, adding that a rescue operation was underway inside the mosque as a number of people were buried under the rubble.

"An emergency has been imposed at hospitals across Peshawar and injured persons are being provided the best medical facilities,” the senior official said.

Security personnel cordon off the site of a mosque blast inside the police headquarters in Peshawar. AFP

Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim said that a number of injured persons were in critical condition.

Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Ijaz Khan told reporters that the roof of the mosque collapsed after the blast. "A number of jawans (soldiers) are still stuck under the rubble and rescuers are trying to pull them out.”

He said the main hall of the mosque — having a capacity of 250 to 300 people - had collapsed but the rest of the building was still intact.

About the nature of the blast, the official said the smell of explosives has been detected but it is too early to say anything substantial.

Workers and volunteers carry an injured policeman upon arrival at a hospital in Peshawar. AP

Ijaz Khan said between 300 to 400 police personnel were present in the area at the time of the blast. "It is apparent that a security lapse occurred,” said and added that the bodies and injured persons had been moved to the LRH.

Standing alongside Ijaz Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Haji Ghulam Ali condemned the blast and urged the people of Peshawar to donate blood for the injured, saying that it would be a "huge favour for the police.”

Former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan also called on his party workers in Peshawar and adjoining areas to reach LRH to donate blood to the victims.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the blast would be investigated from all angles. He vowed that the Centre would fully facilitate the KP government.

Police officers clear the way for ambulances after carrying wounding people from blast site. AP

An eyewitness said that he was going to the mosque when the explosion took place. "It was a powerful explosion. There was smoke everywhere after the blast," said the eyewitness.

He added that when got conscious he saw the roof of the mosque collapse. "There were at least 120 people in the mosque when the incident took place. It was a suicide blast because the bomber was inside the mosque's inner courtyard. The Zohr prayers had just started when it happened. There were mostly policemen among the injured," the eyewitness recalled.

Security personnel stand guard outside the police headquarters after a blast in Peshawar. AFP

A journalist explained that the Police Lines is located in Peshawar Cantonment’s most sensitive area where a large number of law enforcement and Frontier Constabulary personnel are present around the clock.

"The offices of KP counter terrorism department and police investigation department are situated here. Usually, 1,000 police personnel are present at the police headquarters," he added.