Peshawar, Mar 4: A powerful bomb has exploded inside a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, killing around 60 people and wounding dozens more, many of them critically.
The explosion occurred as worshippers had gathered in the Kucha Risaldar mosque in Peshawar’s old city area for Friday prayers.
Hospital officials said at least 57 people were killed. At least 200 people were reported wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Peshawar police chief Muhammed Ejaz Khan said the violence started when two armed attackers opened fire on police outside the mosque.
One assailant and one policeman were killed in the gun battle, and another policeman was wounded. The remaining attacker then entered the mosque and detonated a bomb.
What Iran says
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday that the bomb attack was aimed at sowing discord among Muslims.
"The Pakistani government and security officials should adopt necessary strategies and take serious measures to prevent criminal activities of terrorists," he added.
Many anti-Shia terrorist groups are active in the South Asian country. Both Daesh and Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have previously carried out similar attacks in the region, located near the border with Afghanistan.
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