35 killed in suicide blast in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - At least 35 people were killed and more than 60 injured Friday in a suicide attack at a mosque in northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, state television PTV said.

The blast occurred in Akhurwal area in Darra Adam Khel near Kohat town.

“The blast targeted a mosque in a populated area in Sapeena police station precincts when the mid-day prayers were being offered,” said a senior official.

“The roof of the mosque has caved in and many people are still trapped under the debris,” he said.

“Ambulances have reached the spot and emergency has been imposed in the nearby hospitals,” he said, adding that the deaths from the blast could only be confirmed after the rescue operations conclude.

“It is premature to say anything about the nature of the blast at this stage,” the official said.

Senator Haji Razzaq, who hails from Darra Adam Khel, said that the security situation in the area was precarious and threats from militants were being received.

There are no proper medical facilities in the area, which is about 70 km from Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, media reports said.

“The injured are being shifted to Kohat and Peshawar as rescue officials have reached the spot and started operations,” said Geo TV.

The actual number of casualties may be much more as locals are shifting the victims to hospitals in private vehicles as well.

The restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has become a constant victim of terrorist activities because of its close proximity with Afghanistan where the war on terror is under way since 2001.

Pakistani security forces have also launched an operation against militants in the northwestern areas.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)