• World
  • Pakistan

Witness the Aftermath of the Terror Attack on a Shi’ite Peshawar Mosque

1 minute read
A man walks past broken glass and doors after an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque in Peshawar Feb. 13, 2015.
A man walks past broken glass and doors after an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque in Peshawar Feb. 13, 2015.Fayaz Aziz—Reuters
By Noah Rayman

The terror-worn city of Peshawar was struck by a new terror attack targeting a Shi’ite mosque on Friday that left at least 19 people dead.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Reuters, saying it was in revenge for the government’s crackdown on Islamist militants in the wake of the Dec. 16 assault on a Peshawar school that killed more than 150 people, mostly students. The Taliban, who have also claimed responsibility for the assault on the school, threatened more “revenge attacks” in a video sent to reporters, according to Reuters.

On Friday, five or six gunmen wearing military uniforms broke into the mosque as Friday prayers finished and opened fire, a witness told Reuters. Three explosions were heard during the attack.

The Pakistani government pledged to combat Islamist groups in the wake of the school attacks, but minority groups throughout the country say they still feel insecure. An attack last month on a Shi’ite mosque in Shikarpur killed more than 60 people.

A man walks past broken glass and doors after an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque in Peshawar Feb. 13, 2015.
A man walks past broken glass and doors after an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque in Peshawar Feb. 13, 2015. Fayaz Aziz—Reuters
Pakistani residents move an injured worshipper to a hospital following an attack by Taliban militants on a Shiite Muslim mosque in Peshawar on Feb. 13, 2015.
Pakistani residents move an injured worshipper to a hospital following an attack by Taliban militants on a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Peshawar on Feb. 13, 2015. Hasham Ahmed—AFP/Getty Images
Pakistani relatives comfort a resident following an attack by Taliban militants on a Shiite Muslim mosque in Peshawar on Feb. 13, 2015.
Pakistani relatives comfort a resident following an attack by Taliban militants on a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Peshawar on Feb. 13, 2015. Hasham Ahmed—AFP/Getty Images
People move past a man, who was wounded in an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque, as he lies on a stretcher at a hospital in Peshawar Feb. 13, 2015.
People move past a man, who was wounded in an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque, as he lies on a stretcher at a hospital in Peshawar Feb. 13, 2015.Khuram Parvez—Reuters
A Pakistani official collects forensic evidence at a Shiite mosque attacked by suicide bombers and gunmen in Peshawar, Feb. 13, 2015.
A Pakistani official collects forensic evidence at a Shi'ite mosque attacked by suicide bombers and gunmen in Peshawar, Feb. 13, 2015. Mohammad Sajjad—AP
Members of the Pakistani security services secure the scene of a suicide bomb blast targeting a Shiite Mosque in Peshawar, Feb. 13, 2015.
Members of the Pakistani security services secure the scene of a suicide bomb blast targeting a Shi'ite Mosque in Peshawar, Feb. 13, 2015. Arshad Arbab—EPA

More Must-Reads from TIME

Write to Noah Rayman at noah.rayman@time.com