Pakistan Shocker: 19 killed in serial blasts in Shia mosque

Peshawar, Feb 13: At least 19 people were killed and 41 others injured in a terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Peshawar city of Pakistan during Friday prayers.

The injured were being treated at the Hayatabad Medical Complex, Geo TV reported citing Health Seceratry Mushtaq Jadoon.

SSP Operations Peshawar, Mian Saeed, said at least three suicide bombers attacked the Imambargah.

Saeed confirmed that one suicide bomber detonated his device while another was injured and succumbed to his injuries -- the latter's suicide-jacket was later defused. Police have launched a search operation for the third suicide bomber.

An eyewitness said the first explosion took place just minutes before the Friday prayers were over.

Following the first explosion, five armed men in Frontier Corps (FC) uniforms entered the mosque and started firing indiscriminately, the eyewitness said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan condemned the attack and said he wanted to visit the site but was advised against it by the police due to security concerns.

The Balochistan Shia conference has called for three days of mourning and demanded the arrest of those involved in the attack within 48 hours.

The attack comes two weeks after a suicide bombing at an Imambargah in Shikarpur in Sindh province claimed over 60 lives.

An attack carried out in a similar manner claimed the lives of over 140 students and staff in Army Public School in Peshawar Dec 16, 2014.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri, Jamat-e-Islami leader Sirajul Haq, the Imamia Rabta Council, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Jaffaria Alliance also condemned the attack.

IANS