02:30Pakistan: '27 bodies recovered' as search operation ends after deadly blast kills 100 at Peshawar mosque
The search and rescue operation at the site of a deadly mosque blast near police headquarters in Peshawar came to a close on Tuesday, as workers were seen pulling a body from the rubble and surveying the damage.
"We had adopted a strategy to rescue each of the injured first so at 1.00am (local time, 20:00 GMT Monday) we rescued the last injured person," said Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for the rescue crew.
"We had ensured that our sensor devices detected any heartbeat under the rubble then we used the heavy machinery to remove demolished parts of the roof. Since midnight we have recovered 27 bodies and our search operation has been completed," he continued.
Footage shows workers covering a body in a sheet and transporting it to a waiting ambulance. The extent of the damage to the walls of the mosque can be seen, with huge piles of rubble and metal struts inside and outside the site.
The official death toll from Monday’s explosion rose to over 100. Most of those killed are believed to be police officers, while the area is one of the most tightly-guarded in the city.
There were contradictory reports following the explosion, with some officials from the Pakistani Taliban claiming it was a 'revenge attack' for the death of a militant, while another spokesperson denied any involvement.
Provinces around the country were placed the country on high alert while Pakistani authorities said the investigation was ongoing.
02:30The search and rescue operation at the site of a deadly mosque blast near police headquarters in Peshawar came to a close on Tuesday, as workers were seen pulling a body from the rubble and surveying the damage.
"We had adopted a strategy to rescue each of the injured first so at 1.00am (local time, 20:00 GMT Monday) we rescued the last injured person," said Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for the rescue crew.
"We had ensured that our sensor devices detected any heartbeat under the rubble then we used the heavy machinery to remove demolished parts of the roof. Since midnight we have recovered 27 bodies and our search operation has been completed," he continued.
Footage shows workers covering a body in a sheet and transporting it to a waiting ambulance. The extent of the damage to the walls of the mosque can be seen, with huge piles of rubble and metal struts inside and outside the site.
The official death toll from Monday’s explosion rose to over 100. Most of those killed are believed to be police officers, while the area is one of the most tightly-guarded in the city.
There were contradictory reports following the explosion, with some officials from the Pakistani Taliban claiming it was a 'revenge attack' for the death of a militant, while another spokesperson denied any involvement.
Provinces around the country were placed the country on high alert while Pakistani authorities said the investigation was ongoing.