Blast at mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar kills at least 28

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Officers say an explosion at a mosque in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, has brought on a number of casualties.

Greater than two dozen folks have been killed and about 150 others wounded in an explosion at a mosque within the northwestern Pakistani metropolis of Peshawar, based on officers.

Muhammed Asim, Girl Studying Hospital spokesperson in Peshawar, advised Al Jazeera no less than 28 folks have been killed on Monday and greater than 70 injured folks have been introduced in for therapy. A Peshawar police official advised Al Jazeera that about 150 folks have been injured in complete.

Authorities mentioned a part of the constructing collapsed and that many individuals have been feared to be trapped underneath the rubble.

Peshawar’s police chief, Muhammad Ijaz Khan, mentioned in a televised assertion that the capability of the primary corridor of the mosque was almost 300 and it was “almost full” on the time of the explosion.

“We can’t in the mean time verify there was a suicide attacker however we have to conduct extra investigations,” he mentioned. “Nevertheless, there’s a chance of there being a suicide bomber.”

Nobody instantly claimed duty for the bombing.

The mosque is located in Peshawar’s Police Strains, which is a part of metropolis’s pink zone and has quite a few essential authorities installations together with the Chief Minister Home, Governor Home, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial meeting constructing.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, mentioned rising particulars advised that the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber.

“The [bomber was reportedly] sitting within the entrance row of the congregational prayers contained in the mosque,” he added.

Shahid Ali, a policeman who survived the assault, mentioned the explosion passed off seconds after the prayers began.

“I noticed black smoke rising to the sky. I ran out to save lots of my life,” the 47-year-old advised the AFP information company.

“The screams of the individuals are nonetheless echoing in my thoughts,” he added. “Folks have been screaming for assist.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing in an announcement, and ordered authorities to make sure the very best medical therapy for the victims. He promised “stern motion” in opposition to these behind the assault.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to sentence the assault.

“Strongly condemn the terrorist suicide assault in police strains mosque Peshawar throughout prayers,” he tweeted.

“It’s crucial we enhance our intelligence gathering and correctly equip our police forces to fight the rising risk of terrorism.”

Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, has skilled frequent assaults.

Final March, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Peshawar, killing 64 in Pakistan’s deadliest terror assault since 2018. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-Ok) claimed duty for the bombing.

Pakistan has seen a surge in violence over the past 12 months, with quite a few assaults on legislation enforcement officers, significantly within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in addition to southern province of Balochistan.

In November final 12 months, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who’re ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban, unilaterally ended a ceasefire with the Pakistani state.

In 2022 alone, Pakistan’s monitoring businesses recorded greater than 150 assaults launched by the TTP throughout the nation, killing dozens of individuals.

Authorities concern the return to energy of the Taliban in Afghanistan has emboldened the TTP and led to its resurgence.

The TTP has been waging a rise up in opposition to the state of Pakistan for greater than a decade.

The group calls for the imposition of their hardline interpretation of Islamic legislation, the discharge of its members arrested by the federal government, and a reversal of the merger of Pakistan’s tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Al Jazeera’s Abid Hussain contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan.