At least 20 dead and 96 injured after suicide bomber detonates vest inside mosque sparking roof collapse in Pakistan | The Sun
AT least 20 people were killed and 96 were injured after a suicide bomber detonated his vest inside a mosque in Pakistan.
The explosion caused the building's roof to collapse as some 150 worshipers including many policemen from nearby police offices were praying inside.
The blast happened today during afternoon prayers in the northwestern city of Peshawar near the border with Afghanistan.
Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for the main hospital in Peshawar, said: "It's an emergency situation," adding that several of those wounded were in critical condition amid fears the death toll would rise.
Rescuers scrambled trying to remove mounds of debris from the mosque grounds and get to worshippers still trapped under the rubble, police said.
A survivor, 38-year-old police officer Meena Gul, said he was inside the mosque when the bomb went off adding he could hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a statement condemned the bombing and ordered authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment to the victims.
He also vowed stern action" against those who were behind the attack.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also condemned the bombing, calling it a terrorist suicide attack" in a Twitter post.
He wrote: "My prayers & condolences go to victims families.
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"It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."
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