Death toll rises to 63 in mosque blast

PESHAWAR, Pakistan－Officials vowed on Saturday to hunt down and arrest the masterminds behind a deadly mosque attack in Pakistan a day earlier. The assault killed 63 people and wounded nearly 200.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement, which would make it one of the biggest attacks carried out by the group inside Pakistan.

An armed man who arrived near the Shiite mosque on a motorcycle opened fire when he was stopped by police, before forcing his way into a crowded hall and detonating his suicide vest, senior police official Haroon Rasheed said.

The attacker first shot at police guards at the mosque's entrance, killing one of them. "The armed man entered the mosque and started firing on worshippers and finally blew himself up," Rasheed added.

Previously, police had said there were two men on the motorcycle.

'Panic spread'

Worshippers at the mosque in Peshawar had gathered for Friday prayers, when congregations are usually the largest.

"Panic spread among the worshippers when the firing started. I ran to save my life," one witness, who did not give his name, told Reuters at a hospital where he was being treated for his injuries.

"Suddenly, a man came in and started firing.… He shot many people, then closed his eyes and blew himself up. After that, I have no idea what happened."

Late into Friday night and early on Saturday, Pakistanis buried their dead amid heavy security, with sniffer dogs deployed. Police carried out body searches of mourners, who were then searched a second time by security provided by the Shiite community.

Hundreds of mourners crying and beating their chests attended funeral prayers for 13 victims late on Friday and for another 11 on Saturday at Kahoti Gate. The coffins were covered with shrouds. They were lined up on open ground, made visible by bare light bulbs.

"These were human beings and worshippers inside the mosque, and they were brutally killed at a time when they were busy praying to God," Hayat Khan told The Associated Press late on Friday night as he buried a relative.

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the bombing, according to his office.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the bomb attack on Friday.

"Houses of worship should be havens, not targets. I condemn today's horrific attack on a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, during Friday prayers," he tweeted. "My condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my solidarity with the people of Pakistan."

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in a statement that three investigation teams were formed to study forensic evidence and closed-circuit TV footage to track down the attack's organizers.

AGENCIES-XINHUA