Taliban spokesperson condemns Peshawar mosque attack

• “There is no justification for the attack on citizens and worshippers,” says Zabiullah Mujahid.
• Says Taliban govt in Afghanistan strongly condemns reported suicide bombing.
• Expresses his condolences to the families of the victims.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Friday condemned the attack on a mosque in Peshawar and said that there is "no justification" for attacking people in places of worship.

Taking to Twitter, Mujahid said the Taliban government in Afghanistan strongly condemned the reported suicide bombing that took place at a mosque in Peshawar.

“There is no justification for the attack on citizens and worshippers,” said  Mujahid, who is also the acting deputy culture and information minister of Afghanistan. 

Mujahid expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

The attack

Earlier today, a suicide bomber killed 57 people and injured close to 200 people during Friday prayers in the Qissa Khawani Bazaar area of Peshawar.

Inspector-General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Moazzam Jah Ansari, while speaking to journalists at the site of the incident, said that a hawaldar and a police constable were on duty outside the mosque.

"The terrorist was alone and had come to the mosque on foot," he said.

"He targeted the two police personnel stationed at the mosque. One of them embraced martyrdom, while the other has sustained injuries."

Ansari added that the terrorist, after targetting the policemen, ran towards the mosque.

"The terrorist first opened fire at the worshippers after entering the mosque and then blew himself up," the IG said, adding that about 150 ball-bearings were recovered from the site of the incident.

Providing further details, Ansari said that about five to six kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast, which took place in the third row of the mosque.

"The terrorist had worn a black outfit on purpose to conceal the explosives, Ansari said, adding that the police had an idea about a terrorist group.

"We will arrest the culprits soon," he said.