Jump to content

2014 Peshawar cinema bombings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2014 Peshawar cinema bombings
Part of War in North-West Pakistan
Location of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan
LocationPeshawar District, Peshawar, Pakistan
Date2–11 February 2014
TargetMovie theatre
WeaponsGrenade
Deaths13
Injured19

The 2014 Peshawar cinema bombings refers to a series of back-to-back bombings that took place in Shama Cinema and Picture House between 2 and 11 February where 20 people were killed and 54 others were injured.

2 February bombings

[edit]

During the February second bombings there was from 90 to 100 people inside the Picture House movie theatre who were watching Ziddi Pakhtun at Qissa Khawani Bazaar.[1] The attackers threw two grenades after the movie was paused while still sitting in the back of the cinema. The grenades killed five which was followed by a stampede during which 31 were injured. The wounded were transported to Lady Reading Hospital where two of them died.[2]

11 February bombings

[edit]

The 11 February explosion happened during the Pashto language film called Yarana[3] at Shama Cinema.[4] According to Ejaz Ahmed, the Capital City Police Officer, the cinema contained 80 people[5] (50 under other sources)[6] and that three grenades were used by the attackers. After the blasts there was blood on caps and shoes as well as human remains scattered around.[5] It was followed by a stampede soon after, which caused majority of injuries.[7] The injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital.[8]

No group have claimed responsibility but the cinema received warnings prior to the attacks.[9][10] It was believed that the attack happened because the theatre used to show pornographic films.[11][12] The blasts were later condemned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and mentioned that it will hinder peace talks as well.[13][14] Some hours later, the attack was also condemned by the Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, as well as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain.[15]

Suspects

[edit]

It was suspected that Taliban was behind the second attack.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Four killed in hand grenade attacks on Peshawar cinema". Daily Times. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Deadly grenade attack on Pakistan cinema". Al Jazeera America. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  3. ^ Riaz Khan (12 February 2014). "Militants kill 9 members of anti-Taliban militia in northwest Pakistan, police say". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  4. ^ "12 killed in Shama Cinema blast in Peshawar". The Express Tribune. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Triple bombings in Peshawar cinema kill 12". Pakistan Today. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  6. ^ Meena Menon (11 February 2014). "Another cinema bombed in Peshawar, 12 killed". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Deadly blasts hit Pakistan cinema". Al Jazeera. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  8. ^ "3 explosions killed 13 people and 19 injured in Peshawar". Dawn. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Peshawar cinema hit by deadly Pakistan blasts". BBC News. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  10. ^ Sophia Saifi; Laura Smith-Spark (11 February 2014). "Pakistan: Peshawar cinema known for porno movies hit by deadly blasts". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  11. ^ Robert Crilly and Zubair Babakarkhail (11 February 2014). "Bombers attack Pakistani cinema for playing porn films". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  12. ^ Safdar Dawar and Saeed Shah (11 February 2014). "Ten Killed in Pakistan Cinema Blasts". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  13. ^ "Imran Khan condemns, terms Peshawar cinema blast step to derail peace talks". The Nation. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  14. ^ Jon Boone (11 February 2014). "Grenade attack on Pakistani cinema kills 12 and injures at least 20". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Explosions inside Peshawar's Shama Cinema leave 11 dead". Dunya News. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  16. ^ Farhan Bokhari (11 February 2014). "Taliban suspected as hand grenades tear through Pakistan movie theater in Peshawar". CBS News. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
[edit]