At least 30 dead, 56 wounded in northwest Pakistan mosque blast

At least 30 people were killed

and 56 wounded in a huge blast at a Shiite mosque in the northwestern
Pakistani city of Peshawar, a hospital official said on Friday.

The blast in the Kocha Risaldar area of Peshawar — around 190 kilometres
(120 miles) west of the capital Islamabad — happened moments before Friday
prayers, witnesses said.

“I saw a man firing at two policemen before he entered the mosque. Seconds
later I heard a big bang,” said Zahid Khan.

It comes on the first day of a cricket Test match in Rawalpindi between
Pakistan and Australia, who haven’t toured the country in nearly a quarter of
a century because of security concerns.

Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital,
confirmed the death toll of 30 and said hospitals have declared an emergency.

The explosion blew out the windows of nearby buildings, and frantic rescuers
were seen ferrying the dead and wounded from the scene.

AFP