PESHAWAR-
20 people were killed and at least 60 were reported injured in a terror attack at a Shiite mosque in Hayatabad Phase-5 in Peshawar.
Police said four or five gunmen threw grenades before storming the Imamia mosque in Peshawar, the main city in Pakistan’s restive northwest, around the time of the main Friday prayers.
Police and rescue workers rushed to the site and the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals where many were said to be critical.
Security personnel launched an operation in the mosque and cleared the site.
According to SSP Operations Mian Saeed, three of the attackers were suicide bombers. One of them blew himself up, one was killed by security forces before he could detonate explosives and the third one has been arrested.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaz Khattak were stopped to approach the site due to the ongoing operation.
Strongly condemn terror attack in Hayatabad Peshawar targeting mosque during Juma prayers. Tried to go to site but stopped due to ongoing op
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 13, 2015
Radical Sunni Islamist groups often target mosques frequented by minority Shi’ites, whom they see as infidels.
Last month dozens of people were killed in a similar attack on a Shi’ite mosque in the southern city of Shikarpur.
CONDEMNATIONS
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chief Tahirul Qadri, Jamate Islami leader Sirajul Haq, Imamia Rabta Council, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Jaffaria Alliance strongly condemned the attack.
I strongly condemn suicide attack on Imambargah in #Peshawar. Delaying tactics of govt. are providing breathing space for terrorists.
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) February 13, 2015
Strongly condemn the heinous act in Peshawar – No words can express the ignominy of such an attack. Prayers with families. #PeshawarBlast
— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) February 13, 2015
MWM, Imamia Rabta Council and Jaffaria Alliance have announced to observe three-day mourning.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND WILL BE UPDATED ACCORDINGLY.