More than 100 killed in mosque bombing in Pakistan

Thursday, February 2, 2023

On January 30, a suspected suicide bomber set off a blast at a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan. Local hospital spokespeople have confirmed the death toll at above 100 as of Wednesday. The mosque was located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It remains unclear who is responsible for the attack, though the Pakistani Taliban (TPP) was immediately suspected. On Twitter, one TPP spokesperson claimed responsibility while another denied it. "As per our principles, carrying out attacks in mosques, seminaries and other holy places cannot be defended and the perpetrators are liable to be punished," said Mohammad Khuras.

"The brutal killing of Muslims prostrating before Allah is against the teachings of the Quran," said Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan; "targeting the House of Allah is proof that the attackers have nothing to do with Islam."

The TPP ended a cease fire agreement with the government of Pakistan in November 2022.

The local government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa declared Tuesday a day of mourning for the victims.

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Sister links

2023 Peshawar mosque bombing

Sources

Sophia Saifi, Rhea Mogul, Saleem Mehsud. "Death toll from blast in Pakistan mosque rises to at least 100 as country faces ‘national security crisis’" — CNN, January 31, 2023
Mushtaq Yusufzai and Jennifer Jett. "At least 100 killed in Pakistan mosque bombing" — NBC News, January 31, 2023

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