Published to:
At least 61 people were killed and about 150 others were injured, mostly police officers, during an alleged explosive attack perpetrated this morning at a mosque inside the police headquarters in Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan, close to the border with Afghanistan.
The explosion took place this morning, in the middle of prayer, when the enclosure, according to the local police chief, gathers between three and four hundred people. According to the authorities, the balance of victims could therefore be more important.
Right after the explosion, a rescue operation was organized to rescue people trapped under the rubble of the building.
The Peshawar Police Headquarters is one of the most guarded areas in the city. Mine clearance teams are currently on site to examine the trail of a possible suicide bombing.
On a broader level, the government placed the country under increased alert, namely the border with Afghanistan, but also the capital, Islamabad, where snipers were positioned at certain strategic points and in public buildings.
Reacting to the incident, the UN Secretary-General condemned “firmly” this act that qualified “and I threw it away.”
Over the past ten years, Peshawar has been the scene of numerous terrorist attacks. In March last year, a suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State group caused 64 deaths, one of the most serious since 2018. For some months now, police forces have been especially targeted by these actions.
It should also be noted that this incident took place precisely on the day that the country was supposed to receive a visit from the President of the United Arab Emirates, a visit which was cancelled. This Monday, the country was also due to receive a delegation from the IMF, the International Monetary Fund, to negotiate the provision of financial aid supposed to alleviate the country’s economy in full doldrums.