Photo: Collected-
Metropolis Desk-
More than two dozen people have been killed and about 150 others wounded in an explosion at a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to officials.
Muhammed Asim, Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson in Peshawar, told Al Jazeera at least 28 people were confirmed dead, with more than 70 injured brought in for treatment, reports Al Jazeera.
The blast took place at the mosque where many people had gathered for prayer, police official Sikandar Khan told Reuters news agency on Monday.
“A portion of the building collapsed, and several people are believed to be under it,” Khan added.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Peshawar’s police chief, Muhammad Ijaz Khan, later said in a statement on television that the capacity of the main hall of the mosque was nearly 300, and it was “nearly full” at the time of the explosion.
“We cannot at the moment confirm there was a suicide attacker, but we need to conduct more investigations,” he said. “However, there is a possibility of a suicide bomber.”
The mosque is situated in Peshawar’s Police Lines, part of the city’s red zone. It has numerous essential government installations, including the Chief Minister House, Governor House, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly building.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said emerging details suggested that a suicide bomber carried out the attack.
“The bomber was reportedly sitting in the front row of the congregational prayers inside the mosque,” he added.
Shahid Ali, a policeman who survived the attack, said the place occurred seconds after the prayers started.
“I saw black smoke rising to the sky. I ran out to save my life,” the 47-year-old told AFP news agency.
“The screams of the people are still echoing in my mind,” he added. “People were screaming for help.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and ordered authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the victims. He promised “stern action” against those behind the attack.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to condemn the attack.
“Strongly condemn the terrorist suicide attack in police lines mosque Peshawar during prayers,” he tweeted.
“It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”
