In a shocking turn of events, a police officer has been apprehended for his alleged involvement in aiding a suicide bomb attack at a mosque located within a police compound in northwest Pakistan. The arrest of the police constable, identified as Mohammad Wali, was announced by provincial police chief Akhtar Hayyat during a press conference held in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Wali, who was a member of the Peshawar police force, stands accused of sharing crucial information, including a map of the compound, with the suicide bomber responsible for the devastating attack that took place on January 29, 2023. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of 101 lives, predominantly police officers, and left 250 others injured.
According to Hayyat, investigations revealed that Wali had joined the outlawed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban, in 2023. The arrest of Wali was carried out following a raid on Monday, during which he reportedly confessed to his complicity in the attack.
Authorities had previously released CCTV footage from the scene of the bombing, capturing the suicide bomber disguised in a police uniform as he approached the mosque area while pushing a motorcycle, feigning a breakdown. Hayyat disclosed that it is believed Wali provided the uniform used by the attacker.
The assault on the mosque within the police compound marked one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in recent memory, underscoring the grave implications of insider involvement in such heinous acts of violence.
