The death toll from a suicide bombing at a mosque in northwest Pakistan has risen to 88. One of the deadliest attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent years occurred at a Sunni mosque inside a major police facility. According to The Associated Press, the bomber set off his explosive vest while more than 300 worshippers were praying in the mosque in Peshawar, with more on the way.
As a result of the blast, scores of people were killed and injured, as well as a portion of the mosque’s roof being blown off. The roof then collapsed, injuring many more, according to Zafar Khan, a police officer. To reach worshippers still trapped under the rubble, rescuers had to remove mounds of debris. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, more bodies were retrieved, according to Mohammad Asim, the spokesman for the government hospital in Peshawar. In addition, several of the critically injured died.
More than 150 people were also injured in the bombing. It was unclear how the bomber got into the walled compound in a high-security zone with other government buildings and got to the mosque, indicating a major security lapse. Ghulam Ali, the provincial governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, whose capital is Peshawar, said the investigation would reveal “how the terrorist entered the mosque.” “Yes, it was a security lapse,” he added.