PAKISTAN. Peshawar: Officials claimed a bomb swept through a crowded Shia mosque during the Friday service in this northern Pakistani city, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 50 others.
The incident happened inside a Jamia mosque in Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani bazaar area when attendees were offering Friday prayers, according to a rescue officer.
The blast was not immediately claimed by any group. So far, 30 bodies have been transported to the hospital, according to sources.
Officials have reported that around ten injured people are critical.
Ijaz Ahsan, a police officer of the Capital City Police Department in Peshawar, said two terrorists attempted to enter the mosque and fired at the officers on duty.
He stated, “One police officer was killed, and the other was critically injured.” Ahsan went on to state that the explosion occurred following the shooting.
Meanwhile, the huge terror assault in Peshawar on Friday, has put the Australia tour of Pakistan in jeopardy. Peshawar is fewer than 200 kilometers from Rawalpindi, where Day 1 of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia is taking place.
After the attack, the Australian team’s security is communicating with the Department of Foreign Affairs. According to the report, the tragedy looks to be the consequence of confrontations between opposing Muslim factions. Australia is touring Pakistan after a gap of 24 years.
International cricket has been prohibited in Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009. In recent years, countries have rekindled their interest in visiting Pakistan.
The West Indies’ most recent tour was to South Africa. Last year, though, security concerns forced New Zealand and England to cancel their tours.
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