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Islamic State claims responsibility for mosque explosion in Pakistan's Peshawar

Peshawar blast: On Friday, two terrorists opened fire at police officers near the mosque, after which one of them entered the building and staged the explosion.

Published on: Mar 05, 2022 5:30 AM IST
ANI
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The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the explosion at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar that claimed over 50 lives, media reports said on Saturday.

People walk amid the damages at the prayer hall after a bomb blast inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 4, 2022. (Reuters)
People walk amid the damages at the prayer hall after a bomb blast inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 4, 2022. (Reuters)

On Friday, two terrorists opened fire at police officers near the mosque in Peshawar, after which one of them entered the building and staged the explosion. The attack left 57 people killed and more than 200 injured.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the suicide blast, saying "houses of worship should be havens, not targets".

"I condemn today's horrific attack on a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, during Friday prayers. My condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my solidarity with the people of Pakistan," the UN chief tweeted.

Read | 56 killed, 65 injured in major bomb blast inside Peshawar mosque during prayer

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday strongly condemned the suicide blast which it said intended to target Shia worshippers.

"The assault was clearly intended to target Shia worshippers and bears the hallmarks of sectarian outfits that have been allowed to run amok in recent years," the HRCP said in a statement.

While condemning the Peshawar blast, the HRCP said the assault was clearly intended to target Shia worshippers and bears the hallmarks of sectarian outfits that have been allowed to run amok in recent years.

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