At least 28 people have been killed and more than 150 wounded in an explosion at a mosque in the city of Peshawar in northwest Pakistan.

The blast occurred during Friday prayers at the mosque, which was packed with worshippers. According to local authorities, a suicide bomber detonated explosives near the entrance of the building.

The attack is the deadliest in Pakistan this year, with 38 people killed in the blast. The majority of the victims were police officers who had been stationed at the mosque to provide security.

“It was a huge explosion and the mosque was filled with smoke,” one witness told Reuters. “I saw many people lying on the ground, some of them were dead and some were wounded.”

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for the Pakistani military’s operations against the group in recent months.

The Pakistani government has condemned the attack and has vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for an investigation into the incident.

This story is still developing and more information will be released as it becomes available.

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