Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Moazzam Jah Ansari on Thursday that the police ‘close in” on in terror network behind suicide attack on Mosque in Police lines in the Peshawar area showing that the bomber “was wearing in police uniform.
January 30 a powerful the explosion tore apart the mosque in Red Zone Peshawar area where from 300 to 400 people – mostly policemen – gathered for prayers. Suicide bomb blew away wall of prayer hall and inner roof and claimed 101 lives.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility. for in attack. He later distanced himself from him, but sources have previously indicated that this may have been the work of the man. of some local faction of outlaw group.
Talking about status of investigation in passionate press secretary today in which he handed over to the police personnel like his children Ansari said the police found ball bearings from the explosion site. “We contacted ball used bearings in wreckage bomber jacket [of the mosque] yesterday.
What we know still
- The suicide bomber was dressed in a police uniform and entered the police line on motorbike
- The cops didn’t check him because they thought he was one of their own’
- 12-16kg of TNT was used in explosion
- Combination of explosive and columnless building contributed to heavy losses
- The number of bodies may be revised as there is a possibility of duplication in lists
- China says willing to deepen counterterror cooperation with Pakistan
“It was a suicide bomber and we tracked him down. […] we got CCTV footage of its movement from Khyber Road to police lines […] then how he parked his motorcycle on a side […] he was in police uniform was wearing mask and helmet,” the officer said.
He also confirmed that it was broken head that the police found from the site of the explosion of intruder.
Ansari said the police were at the entrance of police lines failed “check the attacker because they thought he was theirs.”
“At 12:37 he (the attacker) entered main gates on motorcycle, went inside, spoke to the constable and asked him where the mosque was. This means that the attacker did not know of in area […] he was given a goal and there is a whole network behind his… he was not a lone wolf,” Ansari said.
He left on say that the police also tracked the attacker’s motorcycle. “An investigation is a process that will take time, we are doing it diligently, but it will take some patience.”
AT one during a press conference, Ansari said that 10-12 kg of TNT, a high explosive, was used. in explosion. Combination of explosives and aging building contributed to the high death losses.
“In the explosions of trinitrotoluene, shock waves do not have space go anywhere,” he said, adding that it reason for a large number of of victims.
“50-year- the old mosque near the Peshawar police station had no pillars… so when the bomb exploded, the walls and roof collapsed in. My children ( people inside the mosque) were trapped under the rubble for hours”.
He added what the police could remove up debris within two hours with heavy equipment, but they did not. “That’s why there are people who are still breathing in to the hospital today.”
IG also said that total death losses of martyrs were examined by the police, because of “duplicate” lists. “We will give you the exact number of martyrs after eliminating all duplication and it will be done in scientific way”.
“Revenge for everyone death’
At the beginning of his journalist, the chief of police, claimed there would be retribution for every martyr.
“Both me and my police team are in great grief right now… people think we wear a uniform, but we also people who have children and families…we are all in woe, he said.
official said it was time of suffering for police and force need a nation to provide them with healing touch.
Ansari said the police raised their voice against in attack take revenge for every martyr”, adding that the victims of the cops won’t go in in vain.
“We fight for you and we will fight for himself, he added.
‘Conspiracy theories’
Police officer also said “conspiracy theories” made “incite me children (policemen) lead lead them astray and take them to the streets.”
Ansari was referring to yesterday’s protest organized by police throughout KP. in a first-of in kind move, who chanted slogans against “unidentified people”.
According to Dawn report, police in Peshawar, Swabi, Malakand and other areas of provinces took to the streets on Wednesday and chanted slogans for peace. They demanded an independent investigation into the explosion. in mosque on the police line in Peshawar.
Police protesters said their protest was against “systemand they were forced to take to the streets due to the deteriorating law and order situation in province and search justice for victims of terrorist attacks.
Speaking of protest in his media speaking today, KP IS said: “We were still burying our dead when the next storm was brewing. My children were misled and they began to demand protection”.
Ansari said that if the officers who was trained fight back started talking about protection then “who protect the country.”
“That was done of a few misled people, who had their own agenda and had to create issue and make headlines on in media,” he added.
“I don’t want accept any names, but please stop hurting us hit us don’t present conspiracy theories, let us explore and allow us decide, and we will present whatever happens.”
IG also said he was talking to “my childrenand told them that their duty was to find the terrorists, not to protest. “There are losses in each battle both on our side and them”.
He remembered that when he spoke to his police force today he took the oath of struggle against terrorism before it last breath, and every officer followed him.
“Everyone was standing up when i asked who ready to fight”, Ansari said, claiming that there was no unrest. in police force.
“Investigation of the corner of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar”
In response to a question, Ansari said that the technical evidence and information collected by sensitive institutions suggested that the explosion was work of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar TTP faction.
TTP has taken responsibility for explosion for what are the reasons clear. But then they refused it. It seems that they consulted among themselves. group and realized that they would be criticized for an attack on a mosque,” he said.
But, IS continued, “Based on all the evidence, we can clearly say that the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, the TTP and the hostile intelligence agency were working against in national security of Pakistan behind It”.
“We know in people responsible for this is us know handlers and operators also,” he said.
China ready to deepen counterterror cooperation with Pakistan
Meanwhile, in individual phone calls with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang said today that China is ready to deepen cooperation against terrorism. with Pakistan.
They condemned the explosion at the Peshawar Police Station mosque and extended condolences to the families of the victims over loss of their loved ones.
China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and is ready to deepen cooperation in the fight against terrorism with Pakistan jointly maintains peace and security in in region and the globe, said the Chinese President and the Prime Minister.
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