The death toll from an explosion that struck a mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood of the central Syrian city of Homs has risen to eight, Syria's health authorities said Friday, as authorities intensified investigations into what they described as a terrorist attack, reported Xinhua. In a statement, the Syrian interior authorities said the blast targeted the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque during Friday prayers, noting that emergency and ambulance teams rushed to the scene immediately, evacuated the injured, and transferred them to public hospitals for treatment. Medical facilities were placed on high alert to provide full care to the wounded. According to preliminary findings, the explosion was caused by explosive devices planted inside the mosque, in an area that was crowded with worshippers at the time of the blast, the ministry said. Syrian information chief Hamzah al-Mustafa condemned the attack, offering condolences to the families of the victims and describing the incident as a "treacherous act" aimed at destabilizing the country and undermining civil peace. "It has become clear that remnants of extremist groups and their collaborators converge on one goal -- obstructing the path of the new Syrian state by spreading chaos, striking social cohesion, and threatening the shared destiny of Syrians," al-Mustafa said in a statement. In a separate statement, Syria's foreign authorities strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "heinous terrorist crime" and a blatant assault on humanitarian and moral values. The authorities reaffirmed Syria's commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, stressing that such acts would not deter the state from continuing efforts to ensure security, protect civilians, and bring those responsible to justice. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the mosque is located in a neighborhood with a predominantly Alawite population, noting that the attack comes amid heightened sectarian sensitivities in the area. The observatory contended that the victims were Alawites. Homs Governor Abdulrahman al-Aama said security forces had launched an immediate investigation, rejecting "any premature conclusions" and pledging that the authorities would not allow the incident to undermine stability in the city. Local authorities said internal security units have reinforced their presence around the mosque and surrounding areas to secure the site, collect evidence, and prevent further threats. The explosion occurred amid rising security concerns in various parts of Syria, following recent attacks on public institutions and security personnel, highlighting the ongoing challenges during the country's current transitional period. Officials said the identities and backgrounds of the victims have not yet been formally confirmed.