The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attack in Peshawar, which has claimed more than 20 lives so far.
Presently, 62 people injured in the suicide attack are seeking treatment at Lady Reading Hospital, authorities confirmed.
Iftikar Firdous, Bureau Head for The Express Tribune, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa posted on Twitter, “The TTP’s spokesperson calls the suicide attack a ‘revenge for the previous government of ANP’ while claiming credit for the attack. Identifies the suicide bomber as Mujahid Abdul Karim. #Peshawar”
The TTP’s spokesperson calls the suicide attack a ‘revenge for the previous government of ANP” while claiming credit for the attack. Identifies the suicide bomber as Mujahid Abdul Karim. #Peshawar
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) July 11, 2018
The bombing targeted a political rally of the Awami National Party (ANP), killing Haroon Bilour, a leader of the party.
Bilour was the ANP’s candidate for a provincial seat (PK-78) in the upcoming general elections on July 25.
The explosion occurred in YakaToot neighbourhood on Tuesday night, moments after Bilour arrived at the venue to address supporters at the meeting.
Haroon Bilour’s father Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure, was also killed by Taliban in 2012 after a party meeting.
Peshawar police on Wednesday constituted a high-level team to probe the suicide blast that killed Haroon Bilour and others in Peshawar.
Law enforcement agencies also conducted raids across the city to arrest those involved in the suicide attack, however, the police has yet to announce an arrest.