At least 46 people were killed and over 150 injured after a high-intensity explosion took place at a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area on Monday afternoon during the Zuhr prayers. Peshawar Commissioner Riaz Mehsood confirmed the casualties, according to Dawn.com.
One of the brothers of slain commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Umar Khalid Khurasani claimed that the suicide attack was to avenge the deceased terrorist, who was killed in August 2023 in Afghanistan.
Due to the blast intensity, a portion of the mosque collapsed and several people are believed to be trapped under it. Rescuers have been trying to remove mounds of debris to get to those trapped under the rubble.
The blast occurred inside the mosque in the Police Lines area around 1.40 pm when the bomber, who was sitting in the front row with other devotees, blew himself up, officials said.