28 dead, 147 injured after suicide bomber detonates vest in

At least 28 dead and 147 persons have been injured after a suicide bomber detonates a vest inside a mosque, sparking roof collapse in Pakistan.

The explosion caused the building’s roof to collapse as hundreds of worshipers including many policemen from nearby police offices were praying inside.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the blast happened today (January 30) during prayers in the northwestern city of Peshawar near the border with Afghanistan.

Police official Sikandar Khan said there were at least 260 people inside the mosque.

“A portion of the building had collapsed and several people are believed to be under it,” he added.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the strike.

He added that several of those wounded were in critical condition amid fears the death toll would rise.

Rescuers scrambled trying to remove mounds of debris from the mosque grounds and get to worshippers still trapped under the rubble, police said.

A survivor, 38-year-old police officer Meena Gul, said he was inside the mosque when the bomb went off adding he could hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded.

Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, in a statement, condemned the bombing and ordered authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the victims.

He also vowed stern action against those who were behind the attack.

Former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, tweeted: “My prayers & condolences go to victims’ families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”

It was gathered that Peshwar, which sits at the edge of Pakistan’s tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, is frequently targeted by militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban.

The group, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are a close ally of the Afghan Taliban that took over Afghanistan in August 2021.