The plot to target a highly secure mosque here in the capital of Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was hatched in Afghanistan and funded by an intelligence agency, the country’s law enforcement officials probing the suicide attack said on Tuesday.
Read here: Turkey declares 3-month emergency in 10 provinces hit by quakes
On January 30, a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up during the afternoon prayers in a Peshawar mosque, killing 101 people and injuring more than 200 others.
The bomber disguised himself in a police uniform to sneak into the high-security zone and was riding a motorcycle with a helmet and mask on, a top police official said previously.
The Peshawar mosque suicide attack conspiracy was hatched in Afghanistan and funded by the neighbouring country’s intelligence agency, investigating officials said.
The motorcycle used in the blast was sold twice in Sarki Gate, Peshawar’s bustling market, officials said.
Police said they have arrested the sellers of the motorcycle.
Security agencies have arrested 17 suspects involved in the devastating blast – the deadliest attack on the security personnel in decades in Pakistan.
The Counter Terrorism Department Peshawar has announced a bounty of PKR 10 million for the facilitators of the suicide bomber.
Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi visited the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar and inquired after the health of the injured.
Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan was also present on the occasion.
The President had detailed discussion with health and administration staff about the arrangements and medicare facilities provided to the injured.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Police Chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said the suicide bomber’s identity has been identified through his DNA samples.
The bomber left his helmet at the gate before entering the highly-secured mosque which was captured in the CCTV footage.
“The facilitators behind this heinous attack will be arrested soon,” he said.
Read here: China says will ‘safeguard interests’ over balloon shootdown
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of terrorist attacks, mostly in the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but also in Balochistan and Punjab.
The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the outfit later distanced itself from the attack.
During the Apex Committee meeting held earlier this month, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership decided to seek Afghan Taliban chief Haibuttallah Akhundzada’s intervention to control the TTP.