Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moazzam Jah Ansari on Thursday refuted all the conspiracy theories about the suicide attack in Peshawar and appealed to the people not to “enrage their forces”. do
Speaking about the blast during a press conference in Peshawar, Ansari revealed that he had discovered a network of terrorists behind the attack.
“We will avenge every drop of blood of our martyrs,” assured the top KP police official.
He added that the police have obtained closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the suicide bomber, in which he can be seen in police uniform, riding a motorcycle and wearing a face mask.
“The blast was so powerful that the shock waves could not escape, forcing the roof of the mosque to collapse,” said IG Ansari. He added that the mosque also lacked pillars and at the time of the attack, all the people present in the mosque came under the debris of the roof.
The KP Police Chief said that around 10-12 kg of trinitrotoluene (TNT) was used in the attack.
“It took us 26-28 hours to clean. We could have cleaned in just two hours. But our first objective was to find the survivors and then we moved on to evacuate the martyrs,” said IG Ansari.
Talking about people spreading rumours, Ansari urged them not to create obstacles in police work.
“We want to reach our families and our children. Don’t politicize the bodies of our loved ones. Please end the speculation and let us do our job.” IG Ansari said. He added that he would share all the details once the investigation is complete.
The IG assured that he would avenge those killed in the blast but appealed for time to complete the investigation.
Explaining the time taken in the investigation, the police chief said that it takes one person 24 hours to scan a day’s footage and 100 people are needed to view all the cameras. He also shared that he had seen footage of the suicide bomber himself.
“I have seen his face in the CCTV [footage] and we have cross-checked. He is dressed in police uniform with a casual jacket. He was wearing a helmet on the bike. We The bike has also been traced and we are in the process of ascertaining more details,” he said.
“We are close to tracing the terrorist network behind the attack,” IG Ansari said.
Expressing grief over the attack due to security lapses, IG Ansari said: “I hold myself responsible for the security lapses. My jawans are all my children. They did not stop the bomber.” Because they considered him one of their own because the bomber was in police uniform.
The bomber entered the mosque at 12:37 p.m., he said, adding that he asked a police constable about the mosque. He added that his question showed that he was unaware of the place and was sent by someone to attack him.
He added: “There’s a whole network behind him. He’s not a lone ranger. We’ll talk with the evidence in hand. We’re burning at midnight in this investigation and we’re looking at every possibility.” have been.
Regarding the provocation, he said that we were busy with funeral preparations and a conspiracy was hatched to incite our people to protest. If they take the law into their own hands, then who will enforce the law on the streets?
“My people don’t need anyone’s protection because they are protectors. Some nefarious elements have made this matter controversial. I have told everyone that your way is not to protest but to help find the bomber.” ,” he concluded.
Monday’s attack on a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area was the deadliest attack in a decade to hit the peaceful city near the Afghan border and came amid a surge in violence against law enforcement agencies. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the massive blast.
More than 100 people were martyred and more than 200 were injured in the blast.
The attack occurred as hundreds of worshipers gathered for noon prayer at a mosque built for police and their families who live in a heavily fortified area.
