AGENCIES / WEB DESK
At least eight people were killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast Tuesday inside a seminary in PESHAWAR’s Dir Colony, reports local quoting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Sanaullah Abbasi and hospital officials.
Police and rescue service arrived at the crime scene and launched operations. KP Police said initial investigations revealed that the time-bomb was planted inside a bag.
There were nearly 1,000 children in the seminary at the time of the blast. Majority of the victims are children and instructors as the blast took place during classes at the religious school. According to AFP, teachers and boys as young as 7 were among the wounded.
The injured were moved to Lady Reading Hospital where at least five are in critically wounded. LRH officials confirmed receiving at least seven bodies and over 70 injured. Another 36 were shifted to Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital.
KP Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra also confirmed the death toll.
No group has claimed responsibility of the attack.
Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. “I want to assure my nation we will ensure the terrorists responsible for this cowardly barbaric attack are brought to justice asap.”
Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz also condemned the attack and promised to “bury those with nefarious intentions to destablise the country”.
“My heart is heavy thinking of the innocent children and their parents,” said former premier Nawaz Sharif.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack.
Terming it a “heartbreaking incident”, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz condoled with the victims and their families.
“Thoughts and prayers are with bereaved families and those who injured,” wrote Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada.
“Once again children are targeted,” wrote Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry. “In this war, soldiers, politicians scholars, lawyers, doctors and people from all walks of life have sacrificed their blood.”