19 killed, over 45 injured in explosions, firing inside Shia mosque in Peshawar

The third bomber involved in the brutal attack was stopped by the people, and was killed later on by the police

PESHAWAR: Heavily armed militants stormed a Shia mosque in Hayatabad, Peshawar on Friday, killing at least 19 people in an attack claimed by the Taliban as revenge for the execution of one of their cadres.

Three attackers with grenades, Kalashnikovs and explosive suicide vests struck at the Imamia mosque at the time of the main Friday prayers.







11:24pm

Ban-Ki moon condemns Peshawar attack

Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon has condemned the attack, saying "There is no justification for such crimes."

According to statement issued by the secretary general’s spokesperson, Ban-Ki moon has called on the Pakistani authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, and urged them to redouble their efforts to protect religious and ethnic minorities, and to combat terrorism in all its forms.

He also extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan.

Naveed Abbas, a Pakistan national working with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security was among the 19 people killed.



9:09pm

#Shia Dr Asim who was target killed in Hayatabad #Peshawar a month ago his brother Arif killed in #PeshawarAttack today#RIP

— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) February 13, 2015

9:06pm

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak claimed that the attackers came over the Hayatabad boundary wall, Express News reported.

Commenting on the security situation in the country, Khattak said that K-P was in a state of war with all security forces are engaged in a joint operation against militants.

He added that the injured and relatives of the deceased will be given compensation as per the law.

Further, Khattak has also directed that the injured get full attention on treatment.



4:18pm 

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claim responsibility for the attack on the mosque.

"It is the revenge of Dr Usman who was hanged last month for attack on the army's headquarters," the TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani said.

PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS



4:08pm

The attack started at around 1:30pm and after 2.5 hours, the mosque has been cleared while search operation in the area is still underway.







4:03pm

Express News reports police have cleared the area.

PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS



3:52pm

BDS neutralises suicide jacket left behind by the third attacker inside the mosque.

PHOTO: AFP



3:46pm

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says  the government is determined to eliminate terrorism and extremism from the country, according to Radio Pakistan.

Durrani adds that one of the attackers was tackled by the people when he tried to detonate his explosives.



3:43pm

K-P IG Nasir Durrani, while speaking to the media, says police are collecting evidence while BDS is busy defusing explosives left behind by the terrorists.

Durrani says the entrance of the mosque is highly guarded and the attackers entered from the other side of the mosque.

“The attackers climbed a high wall and cut barbed wires in order to enter the mosque,” he explains.

The IG says he is hopeful about tracing the attackers because of ample evidence left behind the militants.

"One suicide bomber exploded himself in the verandah of the mosque while another was shot dead by police inside the main hall," he said.

"The third was caught by people but was also killed later on."



3:33pm

A search operation is still underway at the site of the blast.

More than 100 people were inside the mosque at the time of the attack for Friday prayers.

Additionally, the area is currently being monitored with the help of helicopters.

PHOTO: AFP



3:31pm

Provincial health secretary says emergency has been declared at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Combined Military Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital where all the injured have been shifted.

“There is no shortage of blood or doctors,” he adds.



3:28pm

Political leaders have condemned the tragic attack, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, former president Asif Ali Zardari, and General (retd) Pervaiz Musharraf.



3:24pm

According to preliminary reports, the suicide bomber who blew himself up was between 25 to 30 years of age.

His body is still inside the mosque along with a suicide jacket -- which has not been neutralised as yet -- and hand grenades.

Hayatabad area is around three to four kilometers away from Khyber Agency’s Jamrud area.

The suicide bombers reportedly entered the mosque through a building that was under construction next to the mosque.



3:20pm

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.



3:17pm

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Shaukat Yousafzai says security forces are conducting a search operation in the area to ensure the area is clear.

The minister adds that K-P is fighting a war for Pakistan’s survival and that Operation Zarb-e-Azb has destroyed the terror network to a great extent.



3:05pm

Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) condemns the attack and announces three days of mourning across the country.



3:01pm

Deputy Commissioner, while speaking to Express News, says the attack on the mosque started with firing from a building nearby after which three to four suicide bombers entered the mosque.

He says one suicide bomber blew himself up, and that there is a suicide jacket still present inside the mosque.

The commissioner says the bomb disposal squad has been called in to neutralise the explosives.

Police say the attackers arrived in a car and burnt it before entering the mosque.



Express News screen grab of security personnel at the the mosque, and a car that was blown up due to the impact of the blast. According to police, this vehicle belonged to the attackers. 



2:58pm

Pakistan army personnel take position around the mosque, according to Express News.



2:57pm

PTI chief Imran Khan says he wanted to visit the blast site, however, he was denied access due to security reasons.



2:53pm

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan condemns the attack and asks for a report on the explosion.



2:52pm

SSP Operations says it was a suicide blast and eight people were killed.

He add that three suicide bombers entered the mosque -- one of whom blew himself up.

He further says one suicide jacket was neutralised, while several hand grenades were found inside the mosque.



2:48pm

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directs medical medical authorities to give best possible treatment to victims of the blast.

Further, police officials, while briefly speaking to the media, say they are still investigating the incident and will reveal details as soon as the situation becomes clearer.

2:47pm

Several cars caught fire due the blast, Express News reports.



2:43pm



Express News screen grab of ambulances seen at the site of the blast in Peshawar.



2:40pm

Doctors in Hayatabad Medical Complex confirm that the death toll has reached to 10, and over 60 others have been injured.



2:35pm

Our correspondent Riaz Ahmed tells us that medical personnel are currently removing dead bodies from the mosque.

Further, he confirms it was a suicide blast

2:34pm



Express News screen grab of injured people being carried to ambulances nearby.



2:32pm

Elite Force and Anti-Terrrorism Squad summoned to area of blast.



2:30pm

PTI chief Imran Khan and K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak headed to site of the blast



2:29pm

A state of emergency has been imposed in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Express News reports.



2:25pm



Express News screen grab of security personnel arriving at the site of the blast.



2:22pm

Army personnel called in to assist with security.

2:19pm

Three people reportedly killed in the blast. Firing can still be heard.

2:15pm

An eyewitness says a several grenades were thrown as worshippers performed the last sajda, adding that it was a suicide attack. 

The eyewitness also claims that the attackers were dressed in police uniforms.



2:06pm

At least 20 people have been reportedly injured in the blast.



2:05pm

According to SSP operations, one of the explosions took place near a mosque.



2:00pm

Express News correspondent Yasir Ali says one of the blasts took place inside Imamia Masjid, shortly after the Friday prayers came to an end.

Further, according to Express News, firing can be heard at the site of the blast.



1:55pm

The injured are being shifted to a hospital nearby, and the area has been cordoned.

The nature of the blast has not yet been ascertained.