A powerful suicide blast inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area on Monday martyred two policemen while more than 90 others were injured, security and health officials told Geo News.
According to security officials, the suicide attacker was present in the front row during the prayers when he exploded himself, injuring dozens of faithful offering Zohr prayers.
The injured were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital of Peshawar.
A spokesperson of the hospital said that two policemen have been martyred in the blast and 90 injured have been brought to the facility. More than 10 injured were in critical condition, doctors said.
The hospital has appealed citizens to donate blood for the victims.
Eyewitness account
An eyewitness told the media 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 collapsed.
“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,” said the eyewitness.
Condemnations
Soon after the blast, PTI Chairman Imran Khan took to Twitter to condemn the suicide attack.
My prayers and condolences go to victims families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism,” said Khan