Kohat. There has been an explosion in the mosque of Kohat in Pakistan today. This blast took place in the mosque during Friday prayers. An official said that 16 people have died and dozens of others have been injured in this huge bomb explosion. Among those killed are 11 civilians and 5 policemen. This blast took place in the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of north-west Pakistan.
Provincial Police Chief Zulfikar Hameed said that the blast in the mosque was carried out in a suicide attack. The incident took place at the mosque near Old Police Lines in Kohat, 60 km from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, no terrorist group has yet taken responsibility for this blast.
Geo News quoted MS Tahir Ali Shah of District Headquarters Hospital as saying that after the blast, along with more than 50 injured, 15 dead bodies have also been brought to the hospital. Police said most of the injured were people offering namaz. Besides, he also said that due to the blast a crater has been formed outside the mosque.
According to Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson of Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the rescue team reached the spot shortly after receiving the news and started the rescue operation. He further said that many people have been injured and they are being taken to nearby hospitals for initial treatment. Rescue teams are present at the spot and are taking stock of the situation.