Pakistan mosque bombing death toll rises to 87
Security personnel cordon off the site of a mosque blast; people comfort a man mourning for his family member; a vehicle transports injured victims in Peshawar on Monday. AFP / AP
Gulf Today Report
The death toll in the suicide bombing that tore through a mosque in Pakistan rose to 87 on Tuesday, a hospital official said, a day after the one of the biggest attacks in the unstable South Asian nation.
The attack occurred in one of the most fortified areas of the northwestern Peshawar city, which houses offices of the police and counter-terrorism departments.
The bomber blew himself up shortly after hundreds of worshippers lined up to say their afternoon prayer, the latest in a string of attacks targeting police.
Hospital official Mohammad Asim said that 87 people had been killed, and that 57 people were being treated, seven of whom were in critical condition.
No one has claimed responsibility.
Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella of Sunni and sectarian militant groups, has denied responsibility.
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.
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.
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.
