At least 47 killed in Pakistani mosque bombing

At least 47 people died and 150 were injured. burst in mosque at the Peshawar Police Headquarters in northwestern Pakistan, prompting authorities to raise a national alert.

burst happened during prayer inside mosquelocated in a complex that, in addition to the headquarters of the police, also houses the headquarters of the special services.

The city of Peshawar is located near the border with Afghanistan.

After the attack, the Pakistani authorities declared maximum combat readiness throughout the country.

Rescuers launched a frantic rescue operation to try to rescue people from the rubble after the mosque’s wall and part of the roof were destroyed.

“There are a lot of policemen buried under the rubble,” said Peshawar Police Commander Muhammad Ijaz Khan, who estimated that 300 to 400 policemen typically turn up for prayers.

journalist from AFP at the scene, he saw bloody survivors emerging from the rubble.

“This is an emergency,” he said. Muhammad Asim KhanPeshawar General Hospital spokesman added that there are 47 late and 150 wounded.

A large-scale rescue operation is underway at the site, which firefighters began with the help of equipment to clear the rubble.

But by nightfall, at least four men were visible in the cracks, as well as bodies that had not yet been recovered.

“We gave them oxygen so they didn’t have any breathing problems,” said Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesman for the 1122 rescue agency.

“They were screaming for help”

The authorities have declared maximum alert in the capital and throughout the country. AT Islamabadsnipers were posted to protect some buildings and hotspots.

“Terrorists want to create fear by striking at those who are supposed to protect Pakistansaid the prime minister Shehbaz Sharif this is a statement.

“Those who fight Pakistan They will be wiped off the face of the earth,” he added.

According to police, the explosion occurred in the second row of worshipers at prayer. Demining teams were mobilized to the site due to concerns that the attack was a suicide attack.

shahid aliA 47-year-old police officer who survived the blast told AFP that the blast occurred seconds after the imam began praying.

“I saw black smoke rising into the sky. I ran out to save myself,” he said. “I can still hear people screaming in my head. They were screaming for help.”

The incident took place on the same day that the US president was due to visit Islamabad. United Arab EmiratesMohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The move was canceled at the last minute this Monday, officially due to rain.

On Tuesday, the visit of a delegation from International Monetary Fund (IMF) agree on unblocking the loan so that the country does not fall into a moratorium.

history of violence

In March 2022, a suicide attack on a Shia minority mosque in Peshawar says IG-K, local branch of jihadist group Islamic stateresulting in the death of 64 people. This attack was the heaviest for Pakistan since 2018.

Peshawar, about 50 km from the border with Afghanistanwas attacked almost daily in the first half of the 2010s, but security has improved in recent years.

However, in recent months the city has come under attack, especially against the security forces.

The country as a whole has faced a deteriorating security situation in recent months, especially after the Taliban recovered power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

After several years of relative calm, there were again attacks from the side of the branch Pakistani from the Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from the EI-K and from the Baloch separatist groups.

Pakistan reproaches Taliban that he is allowing these groups to use his territory to plan attacks, which Kabul authorities deny.

Taliban from Pakistanit is a movement separate from that of the Afghan leadership, but with common roots.

This group has stated several attacks in recent months, but one of the worst atrocities to catch the public eye in Pakistan was the massacre of 150 people at a school in Peshawar in December 2014.

AFP