CNN
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Officials say the deadly explosion inside a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday was likely a suicide bomber.
At least 31 people were killed and 125 injured in the powerful blast, according to Peshawar’s deputy commissioner Shafirah Khan.
Rescue operations are currently taking place inside a mosque located within the city’s police compound, and are mostly attended by law enforcement officers.
No claims of responsibility have been made so far for the attacks that occurred during afternoon prayers.
In a statement to CNN, Peshawar Police Chief Mohammad Aijaz Khan said the explosion inside the Polis Lines Mosque was “probably a suicide attack”, echoing the words of Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif.
“The brutal killing of a Muslim who bows down before Allah is contrary to the teachings of the Koran,” Sharif said in a statement. It is proof that there is no,” he added.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who carry out missions to defend Pakistan,” he continued.
“Anyone who fights Pakistan will be wiped from the page.”
Sharif went on to say that “the whole country and institutions are united to end terrorism” and a “comprehensive strategy” to restore law and order in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Peshawar is located. said to be in progress.
Former Pakistani leader Imran Khan, who is the Pakistani Teliku-e-Insaaf party holding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, denounced the blast, tweeting: terrorism. ”
