Authorities say there have been numerous casualties from an explosion at a mosque in Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan.
According to authorities, an explosion at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar resulted in more than a dozen fatalities and numerous injuries.
At least 25 people were killed and at least 140 injured in the blast, a Peshawar police official told Al Jazeera.
The blast took place at the mosque where a large number of people had gathered for prayer, police official Sikandar Khan told Reuters news agency on Monday.
“A portion of the building had collapsed and several people are believed to be under it,” Khan added.
BREAKING: Dozens injured in blast at busy mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar, say officials https://t.co/R5q74scIjW pic.twitter.com/oHd10zDvyW
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 30, 2023
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said emerging details suggested that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
“The suicide bomber [was reportedly] sitting in the front row of the congregational prayer inside the mosque,” he added.
A 38-year-old police officer Meena Gul said he was inside the mosque when the bomb went off. He said he doesn’t know how he survived unhurt. He could hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded, he said according to AP news agency.
There were more than 150 worshippers inside the mosque when the bomb went off, Gul added.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to twitter to condemn the attack.
“Strongly condemn the terrorist suicide attack in police lines mosque Peshawar during prayers,” he tweeted.
“It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism.”
So far, no group or individual has claimed responsibility in Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.
Last March, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Peshawar killing 64 in Pakistan’s deadliest terror attack since 2018.