Explosion Hit Mosque in Peshawar

Local Editor

At least 14 people were martyred and scores including children injured during an attack on Peshawar mosque by militants during Friday prayers.

Armed militants wearing police uniform attacked a mosque in the Hayatabad area of Peshawar. One of the attackers blew himself up inside the building. At least 14 people were killed and scores injured.

The mosque was located near a passport office and other governmental buildings.
Based on the report, gunshots went on for a long time after the bomb blast. Therefore, a state of emergency had been imposed in Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Senior police official said that three suicide bombers entered the mosque - one of whom blew himself up while the second one did not manage to explode himself. Officials further said that one suicide jacket was neutralized, while several hand grenades were found inside the mosque.

According to media reports, five of the attackers were wearing police uniform.
Furthermore, eyewitnesses claimed that 800 worshippers were present inside the Imambargah at the time of the attack.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered medical authorities to give best possible treatment to the victims of the blast. Police officials told media that they were still investigating the incident and would reveal details as soon as the situation became clearer.

However, the incident came two weeks after a suicide attack on a Pakistani mosque that left 40 martyrs , 55 injured, the deadliest sectarian incident to hit the country in nearly two years.

Earlier Friday, Pakistani police arrested 12 Taliban members over their alleged involvement in Peshawar school attack.

During the December school assault in Peshawar, more than 140 people were killed, most of them children. The Taliban claimed that the attack was a response for military operations the Pakistani army had conducted against Taliban gunmen.
Henceforth, the Pakistani government lifted the moratorium on the death penalty as a result of the school attack.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team