59 Dead in Suicide Bombing at Pakistan Mosque During Police Prayer Service

 

inside mosque after blast kills at least 32

A suicide bombing in a mosque in the heavily guarded police headquarters area in Peshawar, Pakistan has resulted in the death of at least 59 people and 157 injured. The mosque was filled with around 300-400 police officers praying during afternoon prayers when the bomb exploded. The location of the mosque, in one of the most controlled areas of the city that also includes intelligence and counter-terrorism bureaus, is a testament to the target of the attack, as the prime minister stated, to "create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan." 

The Taliban, who ended a ceasefire in November, denied involvement after an initial claim by one of its commanders, though violence has risen since. Last December, the group targeted a police station in the northwest of the country, resulting in the death of 33 militants. The prime minister called those behind the attack "nothing to do with Islam" and said that "the entire nation is standing united against the menace of terrorism." 

The blast took place at the start of a critical week for Pakistani diplomacy, with the planned visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and an International Monetary Fund delegation scheduled for the following days. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned the attack, with his spokeswoman stating that "it is particularly abhorrent that such an attack occurred at a place of worship." 

The video circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the explosion, with half of a wall, caved in, the mosque covered in bricks and debris, and people escaping over the rubble. The prime minister is on an emergency visit to Peshawar to be briefed by local officials and visits those wounded by the blast. Meanwhile, police in the capital, Islamabad, has issued a high alert and increased security at all entry and exit points to the city. 

The prime minister is on an emergency visit to Peshawar

Last March, Peshawar was the target of another bombing, which killed dozens in a Shia Muslim Mosque in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. The latest attack highlights the continued threat of terrorism in Pakistan and the bravery of those who defend the country against such acts.