Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism – The death toll has risen to 100 people after a mosque suicide bombing in the city of Peshawar in Pakistan.
The mosque is within a high-security zone and an investigation is under way into how the bomber got in. The attack, one of Pakistan’s bloodiest in years, has left scores more injured.
A Pakistani Taliban claim to have carried out the bombing was later denied by the militant group, which blamed it on a splinter faction.
In the past the Pakistani Taliban have refrained from claiming some attacks on mosques, schools or markets because they say they are at war with security forces and not the Pakistani people, but many doubt such denials.
“Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He declared a national day of mourning.
Mr Sharif said those behind the attack had “nothing to do with Islam”. He added: “The entire nation is standing united against the menace of terrorism.”
