TTP team including bombers responsible for the mosque attack described as a “blessed operation”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) have claimed responsibility for an attack on Imamia mosque today (Friday) in Hayatabad area of Peshawar which killed 20 people and injured over 50 others as Shia performed their Friday prayers. The attackers allegedly wearing police uniforms threw several grenades at worshippers who tried to tackle assailants and remove their weapons as they fired into the crowd.
DAWN media reported that,
“SSP operations Dr Mian Saeed said three suicide bombers entered the mosque while only one was able to blow himself up. Another suicide bomber was killed by security forces while the third was arrested in injured condition.”
Haq Nawaz Khan, a freelance journalist covering security issues in the northwest of Pakistan tweeted,
“Ali Hassan, 17, was with his father Qalbe Ali in the unfortunate mosque in Peshawar is missing. His father was killed” (picture of the boy, below)
Scene at mosque after the attack (DAWN)
TTP claimed the attack (in a 4 minute 12 second video) was in retaliation for the hanging of Dr Usman who once worked as a soldier in the army’s medical corps and was behind an assault on the headquarters of the Pakistan Army in 2009. Usman (also known as Mohammad Aqeel) became one of a wave of “revenge” hangings by the state following the December 16th TTP attack on Peshawar Army School (PAS). He had no involvement in that attack as he was in prison. The PAS attack was in response to Pakistan military operation Zarb -e-Asb on the Tribal Areas, drone attacks and the final “tipping point” the alleged torture and murder of detainees in custody in the weeks before assault, see following link,
Human rights groups warned that a government knee-jerk reaction hanging inmates unrelated to PAS would only bring about more killings and this has proven the case.
TTP video statement
After praising Allah and sending blessings on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Khalifa Umer Mansoor states the following;
“My dear respected and honorable brothers! In Pakistan the battle between truth and falsehood has been clear, on one side the Mujahideen are struggling for establishing shariah (law) while on the other hand the slaves of America are fighting for democracy.
On one side there are madrassas (religious institutions) and on the other hand there are schools and colleges.
On one side there is Imam of mosque and on the other side there is a leader of assembly.
On one side Allah is asked for help while on other side America is asked for help.
So in such situation the difference between truth and falsehood is not difficult.
So you stand up in support of truth instead of supporting falsehood.
Let the pakistan’s ruling community listen to it with open ears, the truth can never be subdued by force. Truth is like a strong spring, when the spring is pressed harder then it comes up again with more force and speed. Remember! Due to many reasons we will win this battle from you and you will face a humiliating defeat.
1…. Our stance is clear and evident and that is the establishment of Allah’s laws.
While your standpoint or view /stance is not clear, that is you want to sustain the system of desires and the continuous struggle is characteristic of clear stance only.
2…..Mujahideen are fighting to please Allah and in hope of reward from Him and such people never get tired.
While your soldiers are fighting to please America and for gain of Dollars.. (if dollar is stopped then……!)
3………. We conduct well planned (objectively) attacks on your such centres which shakes your infidel fundamentals and base.
While you (in return) always bomb and torture weak Muslims.
4…. Up till now you have deceived people by waging dajjaali media war
While (by the grace of Allah) our fight is based on realities (while it is clear that falsehood has no power or strength to fight with truth.
5…… 14 years you did cruelties, you bombed mosques and ruined the buildings / population.
You martyred Mujahideen brutally and you even did not spare their relatives so now wait for our steel like revenge response.
Now either Pakistan will be your graveyard or (God willing) the law of Allah will be established sharia.
In the end I want to tell the military and political leadership of Pakistan that the brutality and cruelty which you have started continuously after Army Public School event and the hangings which you have started (declared).
In revenge of that I am sending these guys and you hanged Dr Usman, so I am sending these suicide bombers. Stop them if you can!
I challenge Chaudhry Nisar, Raheel Shareef, Nawaz Shareef and Rizwan Akhtar.
In sha Allah this is the beginning (first wave) of of the revenge waves regarding martyrdom of Dr Usman..
Rest assured…. WAIT FOR TIME.”
The end
Shikarpur attack (EPA)
The attack came only two weeks after a suicide bombing in January at an mosque in Shikarpur, Sindh in which 72 Shia worshipers died and dozens were injured. This was claimed by Jundullah spokesman Fahad Marwat
Imran Khan Chairman of political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tweeted,
“Strongly condemn terror attack in Hayatabad Peshawar targeting mosque during Juma prayers. Tried to go to site but stopped due to ongoing op”
Shiite News, reported that Karachi-bases Shiites had began gathering at Soldier Bazaar to stage a rally and sit-in near Numaish Chowrangi to protest the recent attacks and lack of security for those attending mosques at a time when sectarian violence increases.
Link
“Group behind Shikarpur identified”
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog 