Death toll from Peshawar bombing mounts to 100

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): At least 100 people have been killed and 54 others wounded in a massive bombing inside the Police Lines in Peshawar, hospital sources and rescuers say.

The explosion, which experts say was a suicide attack, came during Zuhr (noon) prayers on Monday at the Police Line’s mosque, where a rescue operation is still ongoing.

Peshawar Commissioner Riaz Mehsud said: “An emergency has been declared at major hospitals across the city, with the injured getting the best medical facilities,”

As a result of the massive explosion, the roof of the mosque caved in, said Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Ijaz Khan

Many policemen were buried under the debris and rescuers were trying to pull them out, he said, adding up to 400 police personnel were in the area at the time of the blast.

He believed it was too early to comment on the nature of the devastating attack, which was claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali urged the residents of Peshawar to donate blood for the injured, saying it would be a massive favour to the police.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who rushed to the city along with his defence and interior ministers, reviewed the security situation at meetings with provincial officials.

With the mosque debris still being cleared, the injured were evacuated to the Lady Reading Hospital, whose administration appealed to citizens to donate blood for the victims.

A spokesman for the hospital said 100  people had been killed and 54 others injured as a result of the powerful blast. The figures were endorsed by rescuers as well. The LRH spokesman feared the toll could go up.

Touching scenes were in evidence at funeral prayers for the martyrs. Senior political figures, security bosses and members of the general public were in attendance.

mud