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The death toll from a suicide bomber in Pakistan continues to rise.
After the initial attack, “only” 20 people were confirmed dead.
Today, that total stands at more than 100 and it continues to grow.
Horrific Attack
The attack took place early Monday during prayers with hundreds of people worshipping.
Police estimate the bomber had a 26.5 pound explosive device.
They are now estimating the injured at more than 200 people, with roughly 400 inside the mosque at the time of the attack.
Nasarullah Khan was one of the survivors, suffering only a broken foot.
He stated, “The ceiling fell in … the space in between the ceiling and wall is where I managed to survive.”
The hope of finding more survivors is gone at this point.
Bilal Faizi, a rescue spokesperson, stated, “We are not expecting anyone alive to be found. Mostly dead bodies are being recovered.”
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet, it is believed that the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), is responsible.
This particular area, Peshawar, capital of the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, has been the site of frequent attacks.
TTP, thus far, has claimed it had nothing to do with the attacks, but you can take that declination for what it is worth.
A TTP spokesperson stated, “Regarding the Peshawar incident, we consider it necessary to clarify that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has nothing to do with this incident.
“According to our laws and general constitution, any action in mosques, madrasas, funerals grounds and other sacred places is an offense.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated, “The brutal killing of Muslims prostrating before Allah is against the teachings of the Quran.”
He added that “targeting the House of Allah is proof that the attackers have nothing to do with Islam.”
