International desk;

Dozens of people have been killed after a powerful bomb went off at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, international media reports say quoting officials.

More than 150 others are reportedly wounded as the explosion destroyed a section of the building was destroyed.

Officials feared that people are trapped under the rubble.

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported at least 32 people were killed in the blast that took place at the mosque located inside a highly fortified compound that includes the headquarters of the provincial police force and a counter-terrorism department.

BBC reported that most of those who died were part of the police force, and it is believed they were the target of the attack.

It was not yet clear as to who carried out the attack despite the fact that local media reported it was a suicide bomb attack.

Peshawar capital city police officer Muhammad Ijaz Khan told local media that between 300 and 400 police officials were present in the area at the time of the blast.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the attack saying those behind the incident “have nothing to do with Islam”.

“The entire nation is standing united against the menace of terrorism,” he affirmed in a statement after the blast took place during afternoon prayers in the north-western city.

The scene is near the country’s border with Afghanistan.

Peshawar city Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan said a rescue operation was inside the mosque.

“More bodies are being taken out,” Khan said adding that their priority was to save people buried under the debris.

Peshawar was the target of another bombing, which killed dozens in a Shia mosque, in March last year.

The authorities beefed up security in Islamabad, the capital city following the bomb attack.

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