ALBAWABA — A huge blast at a mosque near a police compound in Pakistan’s northwestern Kohat district during Friday prayers killed at least 15 people and wounded scores more as worshipers and rescuers dug through the rubble for survivors.
Emergency workers reached people trapped beneath the wrecked structure and the toll quickly climbed from initial reports of five dead and 33 injured. Pakistani officials later told the Associated Press (AP) that at least 15 people had been killed and 56 wounded, including worshipers and police officers. Five police officers were among the dead.
The blast hit the Kohat Police Lines complex in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where a mosque is located adjacent to police buildings. Dawn reported that provincial police first indicated an explosives-laden car had been pushed into the complex. Police later said the event was a suicide attack near the special branch headquarters.
The explosion was not the end of the attack. AP said at least two gunmen tried to attack the police compound and fired at policemen after the bomb. The blast caused considerable damage to the mosque and police installations in the vicinity.
Pictures of the site showed citizens and rescue workers searching through rubble near a partially collapsed building. Rescue 1122 told Dawn that ambulances and scores of rescue workers were mobilized and patients were rushed to hospitals.
An explosion at a mosque during Friday prayers has left at least 5 dead and 33 injured in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. As rescuers continue to search for more people, Police say they are still collecting evidence as to what might have caused the… pic.twitter.com/yP3rhZ17Uh
No group immediately claimed credit for the blast. But the incident comes at a time when extremist violence has surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Suspicion is expected to fall on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out several attacks on Pakistani security personnel, AP reported. However, no definitive attribution to the TTP was reported at the time.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast and instructed officials to accelerate rescue efforts, as investigators sought to determine the exact circumstances of the attack.
Osama Ali is an accomplished English content writer and news writer. With a strong command of language and a flair for storytelling. His expertise lies in delivering accurate and well-researched news pieces, ensuring that information is presented clearly and concisely. A dedicated professional who stays up-to-date with the latest trends in the English writing industry, consistently producing high...
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