Suicide bomber kills more than 30, wounds 150 at Pakistan mosque

A suicide bomber detonated explosives throughout crowded prayers at a mosque inside a police compound in Pakistan on Monday, inflicting the roof to collapse.

At least 34 individuals had been killed and 150 wounded, officers stated.

Most of the casualties had been law enforcement officials.

People comfort a man mourning next to coffin of his family member, who was killed in the suicide bombing inside a mosque, at a hospital, in Peshawar, Pakistan.bomber struck Monday inside a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing multiple people and wounding scores of worshippers, officials said. — People consolation a person mourning subsequent to coffin of his member of the family, who was killed within the suicide bombing inside a mosque, at a hospital, in Peshawar, Pakistan. (AP)

It was not clear how the bomber was capable of slip into the walled compound, which homes the northwestern metropolis of Peshawar’s police headquarters and is itself situated in a high-security zone with different authorities buildings.

Sarbakaf Mohmand, a commander for the Pakistani Taliban, claimed duty for the assault on Twitter.

The major spokesman for the militant group was not instantly out there for remark.

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant assaults since November, when the Pakistani Taliban ended their cease-fire with authorities forces.

A man mourns next to the coffin of his family member, who was killed in the suicide bombing inside a mosque, at a hospital, in Peshawar, Pakistan. — A person mourns subsequent to the coffin of his member of the family, who was killed within the suicide bombing inside a mosque, at a hospital, in Peshawar, Pakistan. (AP)

This was one of many deadliest assaults on safety forces in recent times.

More than 300 worshippers had been praying contained in the mosque, with extra approaching, when the bomber set off his explosives vest.

Many had been injured when the roof got here down, in accordance with Zafar Khan, an area police officer.

Rescuers scrambled to take away mounds of particles from the mosque grounds to achieve worshippers nonetheless trapped underneath the rubble, police stated.

Meena Gul, who was contained in the mosque when the bomb went off, stated he does not understand how he survived unharmed.

The 38-year-old police officer stated he may hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded.

Siddique Khan, a police official, stated the dying toll rose to 34, and the useless included Noor-ul-Amin, the prayer chief.

Security officials and rescue workers gather at the site of suicide bombing inside a mosque, in Peshawar. — Security officers and rescue staff collect on the website of suicide bombing inside a mosque, in Peshawar. (AP)

He stated the attacker blew himself up whereas among the many worshippers.

Peshawar police chief Ijaz Khan stated at the very least 150 had been wounded.

A close-by hospital listed lots of the wounded in vital situation, elevating considerations the dying toll may nonetheless rise.

Security officials and rescue workers search bodies at the site of suicide bombing, in Peshawar. — Security officers and rescue staff search our bodies on the website of suicide bombing, in Peshawar. (AP)

Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the place the Pakistani Taliban have a powerful presence, and the town has been the scene of frequent militant assaults.

The militant group, also referred to as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, has waged an insurgency in Pakistan over the previous 15 years.

It seeks the stricter enforcement of Islamic legal guidelines, the discharge of their members who’re in authorities custody and a discount within the Pakistani army presence in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that it has longed used as its base.

The group is separate from however a detailed ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized energy in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops pulled overseas after 20 years of warfare.

Security officials and rescue workers search bodies at the site of suicide bombing, in Peshawar, Pakistan. — Security officers and rescue staff search our bodies on the website of suicide bombing, in Peshawar, Pakistan. (AP)

The authorities’s truce with the TTP ended as Pakistan was nonetheless contending with unprecedented flooding that killed 1,739 individuals, destroyed greater than 2 million houses, and at one level submerged as a lot as one third of the nation.

Mohmand, of the militant group, stated a fighter carried out the assault to avenge the killing of Abdul Wali, who was broadly often known as Omar Khalid Khurasani, and was killed in neighboring Afghanistan’s Paktika province in August 2022.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, and ordered authorities to make sure the absolute best medical remedy for the victims. He additionally vowed “stern action” in opposition to those that had been behind the assault.

A woman mourns next to the coffin of her family member, who was killed in the suicide bombing inside a mosque, at a hospital, in Peshawar. — A girl mourns subsequent to the coffin of her member of the family, who was killed within the suicide bombing inside a mosque, at a hospital, in Peshawar. (AP)

Sharif traveled to Peshawar and visited the wounded on the hospital. His workplace stated he would obtain a briefing concerning the safety state of affairs within the northwest.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan known as the bombing a “terrorist suicide attack” in a Twitter submit. “My prayers & condolences go to victims families,” stated the ex-premier. “It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”

Cash-strapped Pakistan is at present going through a extreme financial disaster and is searching for an important installment of $1.5 ($US1.1 billion) from the International Monetary Fund — a part of its $8.5 billion ($US6 billion) bailout package deal — to keep away from default.

Talks with the IMF on reviving the bailout have stalled prior to now months.

Sharif’s authorities got here to energy final April after Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

Khan has since campaigned for early elections, claiming his ouster was unlawful and a part of a plot backed by the United States. Washington and Sharif have dismissed Khan’s claims.