Peshawar: 17 Shia worshippers martyred including grandson of Shaheed Arif al-Hussaini

At least 17 people were martyred and several injured Friday (21 June 2013) in a suicide attack by American sponsored terrorist of Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) inside a Shia Muslim mosque in Peshawar’s Chamkini area, officials said. 

The martyrs include grandson of Shaheed Quaid Allama Arif Hussain al-Hussaini. Shaheed Quaid Allama Hussaini was martyred by Pakistan army-sponsored Deobandi Wahhabi terrorists in the same Shia mosque in Peshawr in 1988.

Dozens of people were attending Friday prayer at Jamia Arif Hussaini Shaheed when a suicidal bomber stormed into the mosque and exploded. The bomber was torn apart. Due to the suicidal attack, 15 Shiites embraced martyrdom on the spot and more than 20 received critical injuries. later, three injured were martyred at local hospital, however, the wounded were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Superintendent of Police Rural Shafiullah said three attackers of Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) tried to enter the Hussaini madressa but faced resistance by the security personnel posted at the place of worship. He said two attackers were prevented from entering the complex while one managed to enter the Mosque after the guards were gunned down.

A loud blast was heard while the Friday sermon was underway at the Imambargah, which was preceded by gun firing, according to eyewitness accounts. Other eyewitnesses said that the attacker shot at the guards posted at the entrance of the complex before entering the premises where the explosives were detonated. The complex comprises of a madressa and Mosque , belonging to the Shia sect.

Bomb Disposal Squad official Abdul Haq told Dawn.com that six to seven kilograms of high intensity explosives and four kilograms of pellets were used in the blast. Officials at the Lady Reading Hospital said deade bodies and at least 30 wounded had been taken to the hospital. Several of the wounded were reported to be in critical condition.