Hangu mosque bombing explained

Hangu mosque bombing
Date:29 September 2023
Type:Suicide bombing
Venue:Mosque in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Location:Doaba, Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Cause:Explosive belt
Reported Deaths:5
Reported Injuries:5-12
Reported Property Damage:Mosque collapsed

On 29 September 2023, a bomb exploded inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Doaba, Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The blast killed five people and injured six others. The attack occurred hours after a similar attack on a religious procession in Mastung in neighboring Balochistan Province that killed at least 50 people.[1]

Attack

A vehicle filled with explosives was stopped at the entrance of a mosque in Hangu. One of the attackers was stopped at the gate as they attempted to enter the mosque, is located within a police facility, and was unable to carry out their plan. This bombing was carried out a few hours after a similar attack in Mastung District of Balochistan.[2] The mosque was crowded with approximately 30 to 40 worshippers at the time of the blast.[3] [4] [5]

Police said two men on bikes started shooting at police personnel outside the mosque, after which one of them detonated an explosive close to the mosque’s entrance, while the other blew himself up inside the building.[6]

Casualties

The blast killed five people and critically injured six others. Several others were trapped after the mosque's roof collapsed due to the force of the explosion. Most worshippers managed to escape after hearing the first explosion.[1] The District Police Officer (DPO) of the city confirmed that the explosion occurred within the jurisdiction of the Doaba police station.[7]

Response

Immediately following the incident, a rapid and extensive rescue operation was launched.[4] The critically injured victims were promptly transported to nearby hospitals to receive urgent medical treatment and care.

Investigation

Officials are looking into what happened. Currently, no specific group has acknowledged carrying out the attack. Amir Rana, director of the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, said the Mastung and Hangu mosque bombings appeared to be the work of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[8]

Reactions

The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan denied involvement in the blast.[1] Raja Pervez Ashraf, the speaker of the National Assembly, condemned the attack.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hussain . Abid . At least five killed as another blast hits Pakistan on prophet's birthday . September 29, 2023 . Aljazeera . September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929163725/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/29/several-killed-as-another-blast-hits-pakistan-on-prophets-birthday . live .
  2. Web site: Blast in Pakistan's Balochistan kills at least 50 . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929090311/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66956626.amp . live .
  3. Web site: Three worshippers martyred in Hangu mosque blast . September 29, 2023 . Samaa TV . September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929101229/https://www.samaa.tv/208731746-hangu-mosque-blast-during-friday-prayers-injures-dozens . live .
  4. Web site: 2 dead, five injured as blast rips through Hangu mosque . September 29, 2023 . The Nation . September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929101229/https://www.nation.com.pk/29-Sep-2023/2-dead-five-injured-as-blast-rips-through-hangu-mosque . live .
  5. Web site: Blast rips through mosque in Hangu police station . September 29, 2023 . The Express Tribune . September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929133916/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2438434/blast-rips-through-mosque-in-hangu-police-station . live .
  6. Web site: At least 52 killed after blast rips through a religious procession in restive southwest Pakistan . CNN . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929143158/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/29/asia/pakistan-balochistan-blast-intl-hnk/index.html . live .
  7. Web site: Suicide blast inside Hangu mosque kills 4, injures around 12. www.thenews.com.pk. 2023-09-29. 2023-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20230929104415/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1114563-several-injured-as-bomb-goes-off-inside-hangu-mosque. live.
  8. News: Baloch . Shah Meer . Beaumont . Peter . 2023-09-29 . At least 59 people killed in twin attacks on mosques in Pakistan . en-GB . . 2023-09-29 . 0261-3077 . 2023-09-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929153519/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/29/bomb-attack-near-pakistan-mosque . live .
  9. Web site: Desk . NNPS . 2023-09-29 . NA speaker condemns Hangu mosque blast . 2023-09-29 . en-US . 2023-09-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930071303/https://www.app.com.pk/national/na-speaker-condemns-hangu-mosque-blast/ . live .

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