7 dead, 110 inured in Peshawar seminary blast

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Seven people were killed and over 110 others wounded in a massive explosion inside a seminary in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar on Tuesday.

The huge blast rocked Jamia Zuberia in Peshawar's Dir Colony. Nearly 1,000 children were present in the seminary at the time of the morning blast.

Local officials said most of the victims are children and instructors. The explosion occurred as classes were in progress at the religious school.

Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim said four of the dead were students -- aged between 20 and 25. At least three teachers were among the injured.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mansoor Aman said an improvised explosive device (IED) was used in the explosion, which killed seven people and injured more than 110.

The injured were evacuated to Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, LRH and Naseerullah Khan Babar Hospital.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra visited the site. He said the focus was on providing the injured the best possible treatment.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan called a meeting to discuss the security situation. He said Quetta and Peshawar were under threat and security had been heightened there.

Prime Minister Imran Khan "strongly condemned" the blast. He expressed sadness over the lives lost in the explosion and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on the Ring Road. But officials often blame Pakistani Taliban for such attacks.

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