The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Monday for a suicide bombing in northwest Pakistan that killed 54 people and injured about 200 more, in the latest bloody sign of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

The Islamic State affiliate, known as the Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, made the claim in a statement posted on its Amaq website. It said the attacker detonated an explosive vest, and that the bombing in the northwestern town of Bajaur was part of the group’s continuing war against forms of democracy it deems to be against Islam.

About 400 members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, a key government coalition partner headed by hardline politician Fazlur Rehman, were waiting for speeches to begin when a bomber detonated a vest packed with explosives near the stage.

The attack took place near a market under a large tent, where the speeches were about to begin. The convention started at 2 pm, and the explosion happened at 4:10 pm. 

According to Shokat Abbas, additional inspector general for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), nearly 10–12 kg of explosives were used in the blast.

Fazlur Rehman, who had previously survived two explosions during political rallies in 2011 and 2014, was not present at the event.

Police had suggested in their initial investigation that Islamic State in Khorasan Province was a suspect. The group is based in neighbouring Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaida.

The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. The Jamiat Ulema Islam party has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.

The blast was among the deadliest terrorist attacks in months in Pakistan, where some militant groups operating along the border with Afghanistan have become more active over the past year.

Image source: ANI