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This article documents a recent terrorist attack. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

2023 Peshawar mosque bombing
Part of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Internal view of the mosque after the attack
Location	Police Lines area, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Coordinates	34°00′47″N 71°33′34″E / 34.01306°N 71.55944°E / 34.01306; 71.55944
Date	30 January 2023 (2023-01-30) 13:30 (PKT)
Target	Police officers
Attack type	Suicide attack
Deaths	100+
Injured	220+
Perpetrators	Unknown

On 30 January 2023 at around 1:30 P.M. local time, a suicide bombing took place inside a mosque in the Police Lines area of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The attacker detonated the bomb during the solar noon Zuhr prayers, killing at least 100 people and injuring over 220 others, including seven in critical conditions.

Background

In 2004, Islamist attacks intensified into a war between Islamist insurgents and the Pakistani government in northwest Pakistan. The war de-intensified into a low-level conflict in 2017. Many insurgent attacks have been carried out in Peshawar, which is the capital and largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in northwest Pakistan. These include the attacks at mosques in 2013, 2015, and 2022.

Attack

The mosque is located inside a high security compound that includes the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counter-terrorism department. The suicide bomber had made past multiple barricades manned by the local police without being detected. Between 300 and 400 police officials were present in the mosque at the time to offer their Zuhr prayers.

The suicide vest was triggered, while standing in the first row of those praying, causing a powerful blast which resulted in the collapse of the mosque's roof. Over 100 were killed, and twice as many were injured; 90% of the casualties were police officers.

Perpetrator

The identity of the suicide bomber remains unknown.

In the immediate aftermath, two low-level officials of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the attack to be a revenge against the assasination of Omar Khalid Khorasani. Subsequently, the group, through its spokesperson, denied involvement.

Aftermath

The government and national health officials have taken measures to respond to the situation, including calling for blood donations for the victims. The investigation into the attack is ongoing.

Reactions

Domestic

Shehbaz Sharif, the incumbent Pakistani Prime Minister, condemned the attack, stating that the attack is incompatible with Islam and that the entirety of Pakistan stands against the "menace of terrorism". Former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the bombing, saying, "It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."

A number of Pakistani celebrities condemned the bombing, including Hamza Ali Abbasi, Naseem Shah, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Adnan Siddiqui and Saba Qamar.

International

The American embassy in Islamabad extended "its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the horrific attack". The European Union "strongly condemned" the attack, mourning the loss of lives and wishing a quick recovery to those injured. The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia said that the country rejected "the targeting of places of worship, terrorizing people, and shedding innocent blood", and that it stood by Pakistan in the face of violence. The Prime Minister of Canada said that "Canadians strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on Worshippers in Peshawar".

See also

• 2014 Peshawar school massacre
• 2022 Peshawar mosque attack
• Sectarian violence in Pakistan
• Terrorism in Pakistan
• Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2023

References

1. "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 47". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
2. "Blast at mosque in Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
3. "46 killed, over 100 injured in Taliban suicide attack at mosque in high-security zone in Pakistan's Peshawar". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
4. "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 47". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
5. "Pakistan Police Mosque Blast That Killed 95 Was To "Demoralise The Force"". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
6. Lieven, Anatol (2017). "Counter-Insurgency in Pakistan: The Role of Legitimacy". Small Wars & Insurgencies. 28: 166–190. doi:10.1080/09592318.2016.1266128. S2CID 151355749.
7. ^ Mehsud, Sophia Saifi, Saleem (30 January 2023). "Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for mosque blast that killed more than 40 people". CNN. Retrieved 30 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ^ "Rescue operation continues after Pakistan blast that killed 92". Al Jazeera. 31 January 2023.
9. ^ Ahmed, Jibran (30 January 2023). "Suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan kills 59, targeted police". Reuters.
10. "Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 59". BBC News. 30 January 2023.
11. ^ "North-west Pakistan in grip of deadly Taliban resurgence". the Guardian. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
12. "At least 50 injured in Peshawar Police Line mosque blast". 30 January 2023.
13. "At least 17 martyred, over 90 injured in Peshawar mosque suicide blast". Geo News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
14. "Pakistan mosque blast: At least 28 killed after an explosion in Peshawar". BBC News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
15. "Suicide bomber kills 20, wounds 96 at mosque in NW Pakistan". The Washington Post. 30 January 2023. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
16. "Pakistan celebrities condemn attack on Peshawar mosque". Business Recorder. 30 January 2023.
17. "Breaking: At Least 90 Injured In Blast Inside Peshawar Mosque In Pakistan". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
18. "Breaking: At Least 90 Injured In Blast Inside Peshawar Mosque In Pakistan". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
19. "Saudi Arabia condemns suicide attack on Pakistan mosque". Arab News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
20. https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1620258788413698049

• Current events from January 2023
• 2023 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• 2020s in Peshawar
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• January 2023 events in Pakistan
• January 2023 crimes in Asia
• Mass murder in 2023
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• Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2023
• Mosque bombings in Pakistan
• Mass murder in Peshawar
• Suicide bombings in Peshawar
• Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa