Peshawar Mosque blast death toll climbs to 95, says caretaker CM

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister KP Azam Khan has said that the death toll as a result of powerful suicide explosion that took place inside a Mosque located inside Red Zone, Police Lines the other day has climbed to 95, with nearly 200 people injured. The Inspector General KP Moazzam Jah Ansari said it seemed like 10 to 12 kg of explosives used in the blast. 

IG Police KP Moazzam Jah Ansari Media Talks In Peshawar about #PeshawarBlast pic.twitter.com/KZwVIvolct

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Also read: International community strongly condemns Peshawar blast 

Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, IG KP said CCTV footages of almost a month were being examined, while a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had been formed to dig out the facts.

The mosque, located at the centre of the Police Lines is surrounded by highly sensitive buildings, including the headquarters of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the office of the deputy inspector general (Telecommunication).

According to CCPO Peshawar Mohammad Ijaz Khan, around 300 to 400 people from different offices gathered to offer Zuhar prayers at the mosque when the explosion took place. “Rescuers had to remove mounds of debris to reach worshippers who were trapped under the rubble,” the police added.

The caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Azam Khan has announced a day of mourning in the province on Tuesday in view of the deadly attack. The national flag will be at half-mast across the province, he said.

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A commander for the Pakistan Taliban – also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP – Sarbakaf Mohmand on Monday claimed the responsibility for the attack in a post on Twitter. However, hours later, TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani said their policy “does not include targeting mosques, seminaries, and religious places”, reported AP.