Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack in Pakistan | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55358543
Caption:

Soldiers prepare to take positions outside the Bacha Khan university. Militants, using the cover of thick, wintry fog, scaled the walls of the varsity. — Reuters


Peshawar and Jeddah – Saudi Arabia strongly condemned a suicide blast at a mosque in northwest Pakistan that killed and wounded dozens of people. The kingdom offered its condolences to the families of the victims and Pakistani government.

Saudi Arabia firmly stands by Pakistan’s side in the fight against terrorism as a source at the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the attack and wishes a speedy recovery for those wounded.

On Friday, the blast struck as worshipers gathered for Friday prayers in the village of Payee Khan in Mohmand Agency district, near the border with Afghanistan.

Officials announced that the death toll of the attack had reached 30 persons. Navid Akbar, vice president of the district told Agence France Presse (AFP) that the death toll became 30 after two severely wounded citizens died in the hospital.

Jamaat al-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Pakistani official said the suicide bomber detonated his device inside the packed hall of the mosque, which has a capacity of 100 to 150 people.

Jamaat al-Ahrar has carried out several major attacks in Pakistan this year, including a bombing on September 02 killing 14 and another on August 8 that targeted lawyers and journalists and killed more than 72 people.