FIA team arrives in Peshawar to investigate church attack

The team will collect evidence from the blast site, inspect the church building and its surroundings.

ISLAMABAD: A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team has arrived in Peshawar from Islamabad to start its investigation into the twin suicide blasts that killed more than 80 Christian worshippers, Express News reported on Tuesday.

The team will collect evidence from the blast site and inspect the church building and its surroundings.

According to initial investigation, each of the bombers carried at least six kilogrammes of high explosives in his suicide vest. “Ball bearings were also used in the devices to maximise casualties,” Additional AIG (Special Branch) and head of the Bomb Disposal Squad Shafqat Malik told The Express Tribune.

“We found the skull of one bomber soon after the explosions, while the second head was found on the rooftop of the church,” he added.

Attack

Two attackers struck at the end of Sunday Mass at All Saints Church in Peshawar on September 22.

The bombers entered the church through the main gate which was reopened for the Sunday Mass after almost three years of closure. Police also found a 9mm pistol at the site which substantiated some witnesses’ account that the attackers fired gunshots and lobbed a hand grenade to engage the police guards at the church.

As the death toll from the blasts mounted to 83, the intensity of protests escalated — with the enormity of the tragedy sinking in more deeply into the national psyche.

Enraged Christians took to the streets in several parts of the country — some protested peacefully, while others resorted to violence.

Medics and government officials said that 78 parishioners, among them 34 women and seven children, were killed

The K-P government announced Rs500,000 in compensation to the families of victims in the attack.

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