Ambulances arrived at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Jan. 30, 2023. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
"For a moment I could not believe my eyes. I saw people covered in blood lying everywhere while screaming for help. This is the most horrible incident of my life ... I am still in a state of shock," Khan told Xinhua.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bombing ripped through a crowded mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar on Monday, killing at least 28 worshippers and wounding more than 140 others, government and police officials said.
Security personnel stand guard at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Jan. 30, 2023. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
Muhammad Ijaz Khan, capital city police officer of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, told Xinhua that around 300 people were praying in the mosque of the Police Lines area of the city when the blast happened, killing and wounding people including police officers.
He said the powerful blast damaged a portion of the mosque building, which caved in and trapped many worshippers, adding that the rescue teams were trying to retrieve the people from the rubbles.
Photo taken with a mobile phone shows rescuers and people searching for victims at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Jan. 30, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)
Mohammad Asim, spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, told Xinhua that the death toll could further rise as at least 15 people were in critical condition.
The Police Lines is located in Peshawar's most sensitive area of cantonment where a large number of law enforcement agencies, including Frontier Corps, counter-terrorism department of KP police, are situated, according to local reports.
An ambulance leaves the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Jan. 30, 2023. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
Official sources from the Peshawar police told Xinhua that the target of the suicide bomber was the police personnel, adding that the bomber managed to sneak into the highly sensitive area before blowing himself up in the mosque.
Following the explosion, the provincial health department declared an emergency in district Peshawar and asked all medical personnel to remain on duty. Security forces condoned off the area and launched a full-fledged investigation into the incident.
Security personnel stand guard at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Jan. 30, 2023. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
Rahim Khan, a 35-year-old local resident, said he was inside the mosque when he suddenly heard a loud bang followed by cries and screams of the wounded.
"For a moment I could not believe my eyes. I saw people covered in blood lying everywhere while screaming for help. This is the most horrible incident of my life ... I am still in a state of shock," Khan told Xinhua.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast, saying the entire nation was standing united against the menace of terrorism.
"Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan," he said, adding that a comprehensive strategy will be adopted to counter the deteriorating law and order situation in KP and the federal government will help provinces increasing their anti-terrorism capacity.
No group has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing yet.■
