The death toll from a suicide bomb at a crowded mosque in north-western Pakistan, the country's deadliest attack for three months, rose to 51, officials said yesterday.
A suicide bomber detonated himself as more than 500 people had packed into a mosque for Friday prayers in Jamrud town in the lawless Khyber tribal district, killing many instantly and wounding scores more.
"The death toll has risen to 51 and 121 people were wounded," local government official Khalid Mumtaz Kundi told AFP.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed the responsibility of the attack.
"We, the Taliban claim responsibility for this attack. This mosque belonged to KukiKhel tribe and we are fighting against them and anyone fighting with us will have the same fate," Talha told AFP.
The authenticity of the claim could not be verified but bombings blamed on the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked networks have killed more than 4,550 people since 2007, destabilising the nuclear-armed state.
Source : The Daily Star
