PESHAWAR: Police have arrested a policeman identified as the main facilitator of the suicide attack that claimed the lives of at least 86 police officers in the Police Lines area of Peshawar in January 2023, said Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur.
The explosion occurred in the central hall of the mosque, causing the ceiling to collapse on worshipers during noon prayer.
According to security officials, the suicide bomber was present in the front row during prayer when he blew himself up. Police said that Sahibzada Nurul Amin, the imam of the mosque, was also martyred in the explosion.
The banned Pakistani Taliban movement claimed responsibility for the attack.
During a press conference in Peshawar on Tuesday, Gandapur said that policeman Muhammad Wali was arrested a few days ago in Jamil Chowk, from where two suicide vests were recovered from him.
He added: “During the investigation, it became clear that the suspect (who is part of a terrorist organization) belongs to the police department.”
IG Gandapur stated that the suspect came into contact with the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) in 2021 and traveled to Afghanistan in February that year. There, the suspect met with Jaish al-Adala terrorists, including Muhammad al-Khorasani.
Afghan forces later arrested the suspect, but a member of the coalition military named Junaid arranged for his release. According to the Inspector General, the suspect maintained contact with other terrorists and provided them with a map of police lines. He also informed them of the suicide bombing after it occurred.
“He did all this for Rs 0.2 lakh, obtained via hawala hundi at Chowk Yadgar,” the IG added. The official further noted that Wali targeted a priest in 2022 and was also involved in a bomb blast on Warsak Road.
During the press conference, a video clip was shown showing the suspect confessing to his crimes.
In his statement, Wali said he joined the police department on December 31, 2019. He claimed that he first came into contact with Junaid of JuA on social media in 2021, where Junaid influenced him and encouraged him to participate.
“I personally expressed my intention to join Jamaat al-Ahrar, support it and work for it,” Wali said, adding that he had traveled to Afghanistan to join the terrorist organization.
After the police lines incident, Wally stated that he was then sent to the Rapid Transit Team.