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2023 Peshawar mosque bombing

Coordinates: 34°00′47″N 71°33′34″E / 34.01306°N 71.55944°E / 34.01306; 71.55944
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2023 Peshawar mosque bombing
Part of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Internal view of the mosque after the attack
LocationPolice Lines area, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Coordinates34°00′47″N 71°33′34″E / 34.01306°N 71.55944°E / 34.01306; 71.55944
Date30 January 2023 (2023-01-30)
13:30[1] (PKT)
TargetPolice officers
Attack type
Suicide attack
Deaths95
Injured220+
PerpetratorsPakistani Taliban

On 30 January 2023 at around 1:30 P.M. local time, a suicide bombing took place inside a mosque in the Police Lines area of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The attacker detonated the bomb during the solar noon Zuhr prayers, killing at least 95 people and injuring over 223 others, including seven in critical conditions.[2][3][4][5][6]

Background

Main article: Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In 2004, Islamist attacks intensified into a war between Islamist insurgents and the Pakistani government in northwest Pakistan. The war de-intensified into a low-level conflict in 2017.[7] Many insurgent attacks have been carried out in Peshawar, which is the capital and largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in northwest Pakistan. These include the attacks at mosques in 2013, 2015, and 2022.[8]

Attack

The suicide bomber, standing in the first row of those praying,[9] detonated his suicide vest in the inner courtyard of the mosque, causing a powerful blast which resulted in the collapse of the mosque's roof.[10] [6]

The assailant was able to gain access to the mosque in spite of security measures undertaken by the Pakistani police.[11] Peshawar Chief of Police, Muhammad Ijaz Khan, told local media that between 300 and 400 police officials were present in the area at the time.[12]

The mosque was located inside a compound that includes the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counter-terrorism department. 90% of the casualties were police officers.[13]

Perpetrators

It was initially reported that a brother of Omar Khalid Khorasani, a commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan who was assassinated in Afghanistan in August 2022, said that the bombing was part of a "revenge attack" for his brother.[14][8] The TTP, through its spokesperson Muhammad Khurasani, later denied its involvement in the attack.[15][16][17] The spokesperson stated that it was not their policy to target mosques.[18]

Aftermath

The government and national health officials have taken measures to respond to the situation, including calling for blood donations for the victims. The investigation into the attack is ongoing.[19][20]

Reactions

Domestic

Shehbaz Sharif, the incumbent Pakistani Prime Minister, condemned the attack, stating that the attack is incompatible with Islam and that the entirety of Pakistan stands against the "menace of terrorism".[21] Former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the bombing, saying, "It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."[22]

A number of Pakistani celebrities condemned the bombing, including Hamza Ali Abbasi, Naseem Shah, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Adnan Siddiqui and Saba Qamar.[23]

International

The American embassy in Islamabad extended "its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the horrific attack".[24] The European Union "strongly condemned" the attack, mourning the loss of lives and wishing a quick recovery to those injured.[14] The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia said that the country rejected "the targeting of places of worship, terrorizing people, and shedding innocent blood", and that it stood by Pakistan in the face of violence.[25] The Prime Minister of Canada said that "Canadians strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on Worshippers in Peshawar".[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 47". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Blast at mosque in Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  3. ^ "46 killed, over 100 injured in Taliban suicide attack at mosque in high-security zone in Pakistan's Peshawar". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 47". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
  5. ^ Ahmad, Jibran (31 January 2023). "Pakistan mosque bombing death toll rises to 87". Reuters. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b "46 Killed, 150 Injured In Taliban Suicide Attack At Mosque In Pakistan". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  7. ^ Lieven, Anatol (2017). "Counter-Insurgency in Pakistan: The Role of Legitimacy". Small Wars & Insurgencies. 28: 166–190. doi:10.1080/09592318.2016.1266128. S2CID 151355749.
  8. ^ a b Mehsud, Sophia Saifi, Saleem (30 January 2023). "Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for mosque blast that killed more than 40 people". CNN. Retrieved 30 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Breaking: At Least 90 Injured In Blast Inside Peshawar Mosque In Pakistan". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Pakistan mosque bombing: Dozens dead, scores injured as suicide bomber targets police in Peshawar". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  11. ^ Ahmed, Jibran (30 January 2023). "Suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan kills 59, targeted police". Reuters.
  12. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 59". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Rescue operation continues after Pakistan blast that killed 92". Al Jazeera. 31 January 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Breaking: At Least 90 Injured In Blast Inside Peshawar Mosque In Pakistan". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  15. ^ "The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a statement has denied its involvement in the suicide bombing at a mosque in Peshawar's police line. The group further says that it considers such an action a crime". Twitter. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  16. ^ "BREAKING: Pakistani Taliban (TTP) spokesperson Muhammad Khurasani disowned today's suicide attack that targeted a mosque in Peshawar police HQs that killed 59 police personnel and wounded 150+, saying, "TTP guidelines strictly prohibit attacks on mosques and public places."". Twitter. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  17. ^ "TTP UMER MEDIA". Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  18. ^ "North-west Pakistan in grip of deadly Taliban resurgence". the Guardian. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  19. ^ "At least 50 injured in Peshawar Police Line mosque blast". 30 January 2023.
  20. ^ "At least 17 martyred, over 90 injured in Peshawar mosque suicide blast". Geo News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Pakistan mosque blast: At least 28 killed after an explosion in Peshawar". BBC News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Suicide bomber kills 20, wounds 96 at mosque in NW Pakistan". The Washington Post. 30 January 2023. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Pakistan celebrities condemn attack on Peshawar mosque". Business Recorder. 30 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Breaking: At Least 90 Injured In Blast Inside Peshawar Mosque In Pakistan". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Saudi Arabia condemns suicide attack on Pakistan mosque". Arab News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  26. ^ https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1620258788413698049
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