At least 95 people died and more than 200 were injured in an attack on mosque Peshawar Police Headquarters in the North West Pakistanwhere rescuers continued this Tuesday to remove the bodies from the rubble.
The attack took place on Monday during evening prayers in this city, near the areas bordering Afghanistan where Islamist militancy has grown.
The Chief Minister of the province, Muhammad Azam Khan, confirmed that it was a suicide bombing and reported a new toll of 95 dead and more than 221 wounded.
More than 90% of the victims were police officers, according to police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan.
“I was trapped under the rubble with several bodies on me for seven hours. I had lost hope of surviving,” police officer Wajahat Ali, 23, told AFP at the local hospital.
Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for Lady Reading hospital in Peshawar, told AFP that more bodies of victims arrived at night.
“This morning (Tuesday) we will retire the last part of the roof collapsed be able to recover more bodies, but we don’t expect to find any survivors,” Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesman for relief organization 1122, told AFP.
At least 20 of the slain police officers were buried after a prayer ceremony, their coffins lined and draped with the Pakistani flag.
Shahid Ali, a police officer who survived the attack, said the blast happened Seconds later before the imam started the prayers.
“I saw black smoke rising into the sky. I ran out to save myself,” he said. “I still hear people screaming in my head. They were screaming for help.”
“Terrorists want to create fear by attacking those who are carrying out their duty to defend Pakistan,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which takes place in the midst of a deterioration of security in the country.
Pakistan has faced a deteriorating security situation in recent months, particularly since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
After several years of relative calm, there were attacks again the Pakistani branch of the Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), IS-K and Baloch separatist groups.
The Peshawar Police Headquarters is one of the most sheltered places in the citywith intelligence and counter-terrorism bureaus in its facilities.
Several provinces of the country have raised the alert level after the explosion, strengthening checkpoints and sending additional security forces.
In Islamabad, the capital, snipers were installed in buildings and city entrances.
The attack occurred on the day that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was due to visit Islamabad, but the trip was cancelled last minute due to bad weather.
Pakistan is also preparing to receive an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation on Tuesday to negotiate a crucial loan to avoid default on its debt.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Monday’s attack and called it “disgusting”while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent his condolences for the “terrible attack”.
AFP extension
ap
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.