An explosion at a mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar has killed at least 28 people and injured about 150, officials say. The main hall of the mosque had a capacity of nearly 300 and it was “nearly full” at the time of the explosion. No one immediately claims responsibility for the bombing. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered “stern action” against those behind the attack. Pakistan has seen a surge in violence during the last year, with numerous attacks on law enforcement officials.
Last March, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Peshawar, killing 64 in Pakistan’s deadliest terror attack since 2018. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the bombing. Authorities fear the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan has emboldened the TTP and led to its resurgence.
