13 killed, scores hurt in Peshawar cinema blasts

PESHAWAR: Three blasts inside the Shama Cinema claimed 12 lives and left 24 others injured, police said on Tuesday.

Later, one of the injured succumbed to his wounds at the hospital, pushing the death toll to 13.

A screening was underway at the cinema when three hand grenades went off in quick succession. Police said the hand grenades were made in China.

“The first hand grenade was detonated in the front, second in the rear followed by the third blast in the cinema,” said CCPO Ijaz Ahmed.

The injured have been shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital and several are said to be in critical condition.

Shama Cinema is located near the Bacha Khan Chowk and its owners have informed the media that they had been receiving threats.

Peshawar Police Chief Ijaz Ahmed said owners had been informed of the threats and asked to increase security. "We had directed all cinema owners to install CCTV cameras."

This is the second attack at a cinema in Peshawar this month. On February 02, five people were killed and 20 injured when two hand grenades went off during the screening of a late-night movie show at the Picture House cinema.