A massive explosion at a police mosque triggered panic in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Friday, leaving eight people dead and many others injured, said officials. The blast took place near the old Police Lines in Kohat district of the province.
Several videos and photographs have gone viral on social media showing the intensity of the explosion that took place while Friday prayers were being held. The visuals and the images showed damaged walls and buildings, as people rushed to help the injured.
Rescue teams, including those of local administration and the police, have arrived at the spot and a rescue operation remains underway. Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said rescue teams are assessing the situation and the wounded have been shifted to nearby hospitals.
As of now, no group has claimed the responsibility, but some unconfirmed reports have claimed that it was a suicide bombing that was carried out by Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), a militant group that was formed in April last year which opposes the Pakistan security forces and rivals the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).ย
More to follow…