Pakistan mosque suicide bomber kills 59, wounds over 150

At least 59 people were martyred and more than 157 were injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Peshawar's Police Lines during afternoon prayers on Monday, security and health officials said.

Security officials, confirming that it was a suicide attack, said the bomber was standing in the front row at the time of the explosion.

Confirming the number of casualties, CCPO Mohammad Aijaz said some victims were still trapped under the rubble, adding that the roof and part of the mosque's wall collapsed following the explosion.

A spokesperson for Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital, Mohammad Asim, confirmed that dozens of injured have been brought to the medical facility.

He added that the injured included police officials. "Some of the injured are in critical condition but most are stable," said the hospital spokesperson, adding that more injured are being shifted to the hospital. The hospital also issued an appeal for blood donations.

Following the bombing, the provincial health department declared an emergency in district Peshawar and asked all medical personnel to remain on duty.

Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the attack site and have started an initial investigation. The GT Road near Bala Hisar was also closed to traffic.

A member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. However, no formal statement of any such claim was issued by the terrorist outfit.

PM Shehbaz departs for Peshawar

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had departed for Peshawar where the premier "will be briefed on all aspects of the blast".

The interior minister added that the prime minister would also visit the injured in the hospital.