On Monday, a devastating attack occurred at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, resulting in the death of 20 individuals and the wounding of up to 96 worshippers. Saddique Khan, a high-ranking police officer from Peshawar, provided the most recent number of casualties.
A suicide bomber detonated their vest amidst approximately 150 people who were in the middle of prayer, many of whom were police officers from nearby stations. The blast caused the roof of the mosque to collapse, injuring those inside, as reported by local police officer Zafar Khan.
Meena Gul, a 38-year-old police officer who had been in the mosque during the explosion, was miraculously unharmed. He recounted the aftermath of the blast, with cries and screams heard in the aftermath.
Emergency responders rushed to the mosque in order to dig out the debris and reach any worshipers that were still buried beneath it, according to police. Khan reported that several of the injured were in a critical state at the hospital, and the number of deaths were expected to increase.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued a statement expressing his outrage regarding the bombing, and commanded officials to provide the injured with the highest quality of healthcare for those affected. He also promised to take stern action against those responsible for the attack.