Pakistan: Death toll in Peshawar mosque attack rises to 83 (VIDEO)

The death toll in a suicide bombing in the northwestern city of Peshawar has risen to 83, a hospital spokesperson said on Tuesday. Some 150 people were wounded in the attack.

A number of bodies were recovered overnight and several victims died of their injuries in hospital.

"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, spokesperson of the 1122 rescue agency, told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

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#TerrorAttack
The entire nation mourns the Peshawar bomb blast and shares the grief of the bereaved families. May Allah destroy the enemies of Pakistan. We pray that there will be lasting peace in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/G9U6cloa5g

— Saqib Mughal official (@saqibmughalh1) January 31, 2023 >

At least 20 police officers killed in the bombing were buried after a prayer ceremony.

This is the latest in a string of attacks targeting police.

What happened in the attack on the mosque in Peshawar?

A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque in a security compound in Peshawar during afternoon worship on Monday. More than 300 worshippers were in the building at the time.

Following the blast, the majority of the roof caved in — injuring many more people, according to local police official Zafar Khan.

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Heartbreaking video on internet #Peshawarblast #Peshawarunderattack #Peshawar pic.twitter.com/zJ5RQyUuUz

— Maria (@Mariamughal124) January 31, 2023 >

It remained unclear how the attacker was able to enter the high-security area, home to police and regional government headquarters, with explosives. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Pakistani Taliban denied it had been involved after an initial assertion by one of its commanders.

"Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan," Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said in a statement.