An explosion occurred in a mosque today (Friday) in Kohat, Pakistan. The blast took place during Friday prayers. An official said 16 people were killed and dozens injured in the massive bomb blast. The dead included 11 civilians and 5 policemen. The explosion occurred in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwestern Pakistan.
Provincial police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the mosque was detonated by a suicide bomber. The incident took place near Old Police Line in Kohat, 60 kilometers from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, no terrorist group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.
Geo News quoted District Headquarters Hospital MS Tahir Ali Shah as saying that more than 50 injured and 15 dead bodies were brought to the hospital after the blast. Police said most of the injured were worshippers. He also said that the explosion left a crater outside the mosque.
According to Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi, rescue teams reached the spot on receiving the news and started rescue operations. He further said that many people have been injured and are being taken to nearby hospitals for first aid. Rescue teams are at the scene and are assessing the situation.