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Rabat – The Pakistani city of Peshawar was rocked on Monday as an explosion at a mosque took the lives of 32 people and injured around 150 more.
Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan said the mosque was “nearly full,” detailing that nearly 300 people were inside at the time of the blast.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the explosion a suicide attack and promised “stern action” against those behind it, although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Ijaz Khan could not confirm that it was a suicide attack during a televised interview, but did not rule out the possibility.
Former PM Imran Khan also condemned the attack.
“It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism,” he said on Twitter.
The explosion happened during the noon prayers, explaining why the mosque was full, and caused the walls to collapse on the praying worshippers. The mosque is located inside a fortified compound that also has a police force and counterterrorism office.
Rescue operations remain active, as victims remain stuck under the rubble.
Peshawar has been frequently targeted by Islamist armed groups over recent years. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a March 2022 bombing in a Shia mosque that killed 58 people.
Monday’s explosion is the worst one since that attack.
