Pakistan: death toll in Peshawar mosque blast rises; over 80 dead

The death toll in the Peshawar mosque blast rose to 83 on Tuesday morning, reported news agency AFP.

Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for the main hospital in Peshawar, told AFP that 83 people had been killed and more than 100 injured, with the death toll rising as more bodies arrived from the scene.

The bomber who was present in the front row blew himself up, causing the roof to collapse on the worshippers, officials said.

"This morning we are going to remove the last part of the collapsed roof so we can recover more bodies, but we are not hopeful of reaching any survivors," Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesperson for the rescue organisation 1122, told AFP.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, saying it was part of a revenge attack for slain TTP commander Umar Khalid Khurasani who was killed in Afghanistan in August last.

The police headquarters in Peshawar is in one of the most tightly controlled areas of the city, housing intelligence and counter-terrorism bureaus, and is next door to the regional secretariat.

(with agency inputs)

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