At least 20 people were killed and up to 96 people were injured in a suicide bombing attack that took place inside a mosque on Monday, Jan. 30, in Peshawar, Pakistan.
A suicide vest worn by the bomber was detonated while approximately 150 congregants prayed inside.
According to Zafar Khan, a local police officer, the impact of the explosion caused the mosque's roof to collapse, which caused several injuries.
According to Saddique Khan, a top police official in Peshawar, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing but the Pakistani Taliban have been implicated in similar suicide assaults in the past.
Meena Gul, a 38-year-old police officer who survived, claimed to have been at the mosque when the device detonated. He said he has no idea how he managed to escape unharmed. Gul claimed that after the device detonated, he could hear cries and screams.
As rescuers attempted to save worshippers by clearing piles of debris from the mosque grounds, many became stuck under the rubble.
There were worries that the death toll may grow because a number of the injured were classified at a hospital as being in severe condition.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif denounced the bombing and instructed officials to provide the bombing victims with the finest medical care possible. Additionally, he threatened to take "severe punishment" against the perpetrators of the crime.