Bomb disposal officials inspect the motorcycle used in the bombing. PHOTO: SAMEER RAZIQ
Police and bomb disposal officials said that up to three kilogrammes of explosives had been planted in a motorcycle and detonated using a remote control. The vehicle was parked near the Imambargah Sakhi Munawar Shah. The explosion was powerful enough to destroy the windows of nearby buildings.
The explosion forced some people to fall in to the nearby canal.
Police officials have secured the blast area. Investigations and a search opeartion are underway.
The injured have been shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital where at least three of the injured are described to be in a critical condition.
A large number of relatives of the dead and injured reached the hospital.
Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Javed Marwat told the media that at this point they do not know what the target of the bomb was but they were conducting a search operation in the area.
Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has strongly condemned the blast and directed authorities concerned to provide the best available medical assistance to those injured in the blast.
Targeting Shia community?
Though the Peshawar deputy police commissioner said that the target of the bombing was unknown, SP City Khalid Hamdani believed that the resident Shia community could have been targeted.
Hamdani added that security is present at the Imambargah, however, the attackers used the cover of darkness to plant the explosives-laden motorcycle close to the building.
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