China News Agency, Beijing, January 31, Islamabad: According to local media reports on the 31st, at least 72 people were killed and 157 injured in an explosion attack on a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on the afternoon of the 30th.
The Pakistani media "Geo News" reported that the rescue team searched for the remains of nine more victims in the ruins of the mosque in the early morning of the 31st, so the death toll rose from the previous 63 to 72.
According to reports, the Peshawar police stated that the explosion occurred in the central hall of the mosque, causing the roof to collapse. Many people were trapped in the rubble, and rescue efforts are still underway.
The report also quoted local security officials as saying that the suicide attacker was in the front row of the prayer crowd, and the imam of the mosque was also killed in the attack.
"Geo News" reported that the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.
According to Pakistan's "Dawn" news, the local police said that when the explosion occurred, there were 300 to 400 policemen in the area.
If the explosion occurred within the security checkpoint, it would be a security error, but further investigation is still required.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi issued a post on his social account, strongly condemning the attack and expressing condolences to the families of the victims and the injured.
Perpetrators will be punished and "terrorism must be buried forever," he said.
The police in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, announced on the 30th that the city has entered a state of security alert, increasing security checks at entrances and exits, and deploying snipers in important ports and buildings.
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