International Desk: At least 88 people were killed and 221 others wounded in a bomb attack targeting a mosque in a security compound in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to authorities.

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A suicide bomber blew himself up in the mosque which is in a tightly guarded police compound on Monday at around 1pm during the Zohr prayers, causing the roof to come crashing down upon those who were offering the prayers at that time.

Muhammed Asim, a spokesperson for the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, said more than 170 injured people taken to hospital, 57 injured people were still receiving treatment and six remained in critical condition.

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Sarbakaf Mohmand, a commander for the Pakistan Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban, or TTP), initially claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter.

But hours later, TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani distanced the group from the bombing, saying it was not its policy to target mosques, seminaries and religious places. His did not address why a TTP commander had claimed responsibility for the bombing.

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“Tehreek-e-Taliban has nothing to do with this attack,” a TTP statement said.

The mosque is located inside a highly fortified compound that includes the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counterterrorism department.

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Authorities said part of the building collapsed and that many people were feared to be trapped under the rubble.

Sun News/MR

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