At least 50 killed, scores wounded in blast at mosque in northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR: A minimum of 50 folks have been killed and scores wounded on Friday in a suicide bombing at a minority Shia mosque in Pakistan’s northwestern metropolis of Peshawar, police stated.

The blast passed off within the congested Qissa Khawani bazaar as folks have been providing Friday prayers.

The dying toll is anticipated to rise considerably as most of the injured are in essential situation, police and hospital officers stated.

Authorities haven’t confirmed who could also be behind the assault, and no group instantly claimed accountability for the blast. Nonetheless, each Daesh and the Pakistani Taliban have carried out comparable assaults in opposition to minority teams previously.

“It was a suicide blast, which left 50 lifeless,” Haroon Rashid, senior superintendent of police, advised Arab Information.

Muhammad Asim, a spokesman on the Woman Readying Hospital, the most important medical facility in Peshawar, advised Arab Information a minimum of 60 folks had been injured.

“Individuals from all age teams have been introduced in,” he advised reporters, saying a lot of the injured have been in a essential situation.

Sher Gul Safi, an official on the Edhi Rescue service, stated he had counted 56 lifeless and over 100 wounded.

“We are actually transporting the lifeless our bodies to their properties,” he advised Arab Information. “We’re busy in (a) rescue and aid operation, transporting the lifeless.”

An eyewitness, Ali Asghar, who himself sustained minor accidents from the blast, advised reporters: “We have been making ready for prayers when all in a sudden a terrorist entered with a pistol and began firing at folks, killing many one after the other, which was adopted by an enormous blast. The explosion passed off in the principle corridor of the mosque.”

In a Twitter submit, Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the blast and referred to as for an investigation.

Inside Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed stated a report had been sought from the provincial inspector common of police and chief secretary.

Pakistan’s info minister, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, tweeted that the Peshawar blast was a “hyperlink in a big conspiracy,” in a veiled reference to neighbors India and Afghanistan, nations Pakistan typically blames for supporting militants who perform such assaults.