JAKARTA - A suicide bombing during Friday prayers at a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, killed at least 58 people and injured nearly 200, local hospital officials said.
In a statement, ISIS claimed responsibility for the incident, one of the largest attacks the militant group has carried out in Pakistan.
A gunman arrived near the mosque on a motorbike. He shot when stopped by police, then broke into a mosque packed with worshippers and detonated a suicide vest, senior police official Haroon Rasheed said.
He said the assailant initially shot a number of police officers guarding the mosque gates and killed one of them.
"The gunman entered the mosque and started shooting at worshipers and eventually blew himself up," Rasheed said.
Police previously said there were two men on the motorbike. The incident was one of the deadliest attacks in recent years against the Shiite Muslim minority, which has long been a target for militia groups, including ISIS and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or "Pakistan Taliban".
The Pakistani Taliban told Reuters they were not the perpetrators of the attack.
Many of the injured were in critical condition, said Lady Reading Hospital officials who were nearby.
Sardar Hussain, who lost three of his relatives in the incident, said the mosque was the only place of worship for the Shia community in Peshawar's old city.
Attacks by rebel militias were almost daily in Pakistan before the military cracked down on them in 2014.
"Panic spread among the congregation when the shooting started. I ran for safety," a man who did not want to be named told Reuters at a hospital where he was being treated for his injuries.
"Suddenly a man came and started shooting… He shot a lot of people then closed his eyes and blew himself up. After that, I don't know what happened," he said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the bombing, according to his office.
The attack took place while the Australian cricket team was on tour in Pakistan and staying in Islamabad, 140km from Peshawar.
Pakistan has recently returned to host international teams. Previously, international events were moved to the United Arab Emirates due to security concerns.
Following the incident, Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald said his team in Pakistan would be escorted by security personnel.
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