Suicide bomber hits Pakistan mosque

A suicide bomber struck yesterday inside a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 34 people and wounding as many as 150 worshippers.

Most of the casualties were policemen as the targeted mosque is located within a sprawling compound, which also serves as the city's police headquarters.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, a senior police official said, but the Pakistani Taliban have been blamed in similar suicide attacks in the past.

The bomber detonated his suicide vest as some 200 worshipers were praying inside or heading to the mosque for prayers. The police compound is located in a high-security zone along with several government buildings and it was unclear how the bomber managed to penetrate so deep inside the zone unnoticed.

The impact of the explosion collapsed the roof of the mosque, which caved in and injured many, according to a local police officer.

A survivor, a 38-year-old police officer, said he was inside the mosque when the bomb went off. He said he doesn't know how he survived unhurt. He added that he could hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded.

Rescuers scrambled trying to remove mounds of debris from the mosque grounds and get to worshippers still trapped under the rubble, police said.

At a nearby hospital, many of the wounded were listed in critical condition as the casualty toll rose.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and vowed "stern action" against those who were behind the attack.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan called the bombing a "terrorist suicide attack."

He added: "It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering and properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."