Bombing at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar has claimed 32 lives and injured at least 150 more.
Officials believe individuals are buried under the debris after a portion of the structure was damaged.
It appears that the majority of those killed were police officers.
It was initially reported that a bomber seated in the first row had detonated his device, however this has not been confirmed, and no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
At least 300 to 400 police officers were in the neighbourhood at the time of the bomb, according to statements made by Muhammad Ijaz Khan, a police officer in Peshawar’s capital city.
Premier Shehbaz Sharif has made his disapproval of the incident known. Mr. Sharif issued a statement saying the perpetrators of the attack “had nothing to do with Islam.”
The entire country is united against the threat of terrorism, he said.
The explosion happened during afternoon prayers in the city in the country’s northwest at approximately 13:30 (08:30 GMT), not far from the border with Afghanistan.
Half of a wall has fallen in, as shown in a video that has gone viral online and has been confirmed by the BBC. People are scrambling over the strewn bricks and rubble of the destroyed mosque to safety.
According to Peshawar’s Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan, “more dead are being carried out” as the rescue effort inside the mosque continues.
Mr. Khan further stated, “Our current priority is to rescue victims buried by the rubble.”
On January 30, 2023, inside the Peshawar Police Headquarters, security personnel inspected the bomb scene at a local mosque.
Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim claimed several of the victims were in severe condition.
Mr. Asim emphasised, “It’s an emergency.”
Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital has declared an emergency and is still receiving victims of the blast, according to the BBC. The hospital is appealing for blood donations.
Previous assaults have been carried out by a variety of organisations, including the Pakistan Taliban. Since they broke the truce in November, things have gotten much worse.
Another attack occurred in a Shia mosque in Peshawar in March of last year, killing dozens of people.
Islamabad Police issued a security notice, saying that the city’s gates and airport were now more heavily guarded.