56 martyred, over 194 injured in Peshawar suicide attack during Friday prayers

PESHAWAR (92 News) - As many as 56 people, including a policeman, were martyred and over 194 injured in a suicide attack during Friday prayers in a mosque in Qissa Khawani Bazaar.

A large number of people were present in the mosque to offer the Friday prayers when the blast occurred. According to the CCTV footage, the attacker came from Chitrali Bazaar and martyred the policeman by opening fire on him. Later, he entered mosque.

According to the police, the attackers were two in numbers.

Talking to the media, Khyber pakhtunkhwa IG Moazzam Jah Ansari said that over 200 ball bearings were used in the blast. "The attacker blew himself in the third line of the worshipers. The policeman present on duty was hit in the chest."

According to eyewitnesses, the blast occurred in the ground floor of Risaldar Mosque. After the blast, an emergency has been enforced in hospitals across the city. The hospital administration appealed to the people to donate blood.

Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers and politicians have condemned the terrorist attack.