Islamic State claims killing of Peshawar counterterrorism officer

Riazul Islam was returning home with his son on Saturday evening after prayers in a suburban mosque when gunmen fired several shots and escaped on a motorcycle.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for killing a counterterrorism police officer and wounding his young son in Peshawar.

A video grab released by Islamic State-affiliated Amaq news agency, shows Islamic State fighters claiming to be in Palmyra. (Reuters)

The militant group in a statement on Sunday says its fighters carried out the shooting, but gives no further details.

Riazul Islam was returning home with his son on Saturday evening after prayers in a suburban mosque when gunmen fired several shots and escaped on a motorcycle.

Islam had survived two bomb attacks in the past three years, one of which severely wounded him.

Peshawar sits at the edge of Pakistan’s tribal regions along the Afghan border and has been the scene of frequent militant bomb and gun attacks in recent years.