In a tragic incident, at least five individuals, including a police officer, lost their lives, and a dozen more sustained injuries following a suicide attack inside a mosque located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district.
The targeted mosque was situated within the premises of the Doaba Police Lines, and it fell victim to the assault carried out by two suicide bombers, as reported by DPO Nisar Ahmed. He stated, “The first attacker was neutralized at the police lines’ entrance while attempting to gain access, whereas the second attacker managed to enter the mosque and detonated himself.”
According to the police official, the two assailants arrived in a private vehicle and were engaged by on-duty police personnel. “During the exchange of fire, two police officers sustained injuries.”
The DPO further emphasized that the timely response of security forces prevented a more significant catastrophe, as most of the worshipers had already left the mosque following the firefight between the deployed police and the attackers.
Rescue 1122 officials disclosed that six individuals with severe injuries were promptly transported to nearby hospitals. In response to the magnitude of the blast, authorities requested heavy machinery to assist in the rescue operation due to the mosque’s roof collapsing.
SHO Shabraz reported that the explosion occurred during Friday prayers when a congregation had gathered in the mosque. Initially, he estimated that there were approximately 30 to 40 worshipers present.
Rescue teams and security personnel swiftly arrived at the scene, cordoning off the area. In addition to six Rescue 1122 ambulances, two ambulances from Kohat were dispatched to the incident site.
The caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azam Khan, called for a detailed report on the incident from the provincial police. He also instructed authorities to oversee the rescue operation and ensure the injured received the best available medical care.
In response to the attack, Azam Khan declared a state of emergency in hospitals throughout Hangu.
This marks the second bomb attack within the country on the same day, with the first one claiming the lives of at least 50 individuals and injuring 100 more during an Eid Miladun Nabi procession in Balochistan’s Mastung district.
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