42 killed in Rawalpindi mosque attack

Officials have confirmed 42 casualties in firing and two suicide blasts at Parade Lane Mosque – situated near Qasim Market of Westridge here on Friday, report said. Four security personnel, including a Major General, were also reported to be among dead while 77 people were wounded when 6 armed men attacked a mosque located near Army headquarters. Two suicide bombers accompanied the attackers blew themselves up during the attack resulting in the heavy toll of casualties and injured, Interior Minister Rehman A Malik told the newsmen. Five attackers were killed in retaliation by the security guards deputed at the mosque. Police and army troops arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area soon after the firing while more contingents of law enforcers were summoned at the scene. Helicopters engaged in aerial surveillance were also seen hovering over the incident site as it was feared that few of the attackers have escaped the scene and taken refuge in the neighboring streets.