By Isarulhaq in The News online, Sept 29, 2023
HANGU: At least five people, including a police officer, lost their lives while several others were injured after a bomb went off inside a mosque during Friday’s sermon, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu, where people were gathered for weekly prayers.
The city’s district police officer (DPO) Nisar Ahmed said that the blast took place within the limits of the Doaba police station. Over 30 people have been buried under the rubble after the roof of the mosque collapsed following the blast.
Ahmed said two suicide bombers were involved in the attack — one targeted the gate of the police station, and the other blew himself up inside the mosque…..
The police officials said that two militants tried entering the police station and started firing at the gate. They added that one of the terrorists was killed at the gate by the police in retaliatory fire.
Moreover, two policemen were also injured during the firing, officials of the law enforcement agency said, adding that the other militant blew himself up inside the mosque.
The timely action by the police resulted in fewer casualties following the blast, they added.
This was the second terror attack in a single day as earlier today, a suicide blast in Balochistan’s Mastung district killed at least 35 people including a police officer while injuring over 45. ….
For the past year now, Pakistan has been gripped by a spate of terror attacks, with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly being under the radar of militants targeting security forces and civilians to deteriorate peace…..
Earlier this month, a report compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) stated a sharp increase recorded in militant attacks across the country in the month of August with 99 terror incidents reported.
This, according to the report, was the highest number recorded in any single month since November 2014. These attacks have resulted in 112 deaths and 87 injuries, mostly targeting security forces personnel and civilians.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1114563-several-injured-as-bomb-goes-off-inside-hangu-mosque
