Suicide blast in Jamrud mosque: 56 killed, 123 injured

Suicide bomber aged 15-16 years had entered the mosque through a window and exploded in the main hall.

PESHAWAR: At least 56 people were killed and 123 injured, confirmed Edhi sources, in a suicide attack inside Mandokhel Masjid in the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency on Friday.

Locals said that a young boy aged 15-16 years had entered the mosque through a window and exploded himself in the main hall during Friday prayers. Officials also confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.

Locals said some militants had entered the area two to three days back and had been forced to leave by tribal elders.

When the suicide bomber entered the mosque, he is reported to have shouted “Who will throw me out of the area now?”

The injured and bodies were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

The political administration has announced compensations of Rs50,000 each for the families of the deceased and Rs25,000 for those injured.

Meanwhile President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani have expressed deep shock on the attack and loss of lives, condemning it as an abhorrent act.

Also US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a statement issued from Washington, strongly condemned the attack and condoled with the families and loved ones affected by this deplorable violence.

End of live updates

3:55pm

Edhi sources have confirmed 53 people were killed and 123 injured in the blast.

3:45pm

Express 24/7 correspondent Iftikhar Firdous said locals had confirmed that 53 bodies had been collected from the mosque and 103 injured had been shifted to hospitals.

A large number of casualties were reported to be a result of the pellets used in the suicide vest, 30 people were killed on the spot.

Locals said some militants had entered the area two to three days back and had been forced to leave by tribal elders.

When the suicide bomber entered the mosque, he is reported to have shouted “Who will throw me out of the area now?”

The suicide bomber had jumped through the window and exploded in the main hall of the mosque.

The clean-up of the mosque is underway and visuals from the site show shattered windows, a blackened roof and pellet holes in the walls.

3:15pm

Express 24/7 correspondent Iftikhar Firdous said local officials had confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack. Reports state that a young boy entered and exploded himself when Friday prayers were being offered inside Mandokhel Mosque.

Initial investigations have revealed that pellets were also used in the attack.

There were still bodies trapped in the wreckage, witness Haji Zarmeen, who helped removed at least 12 bodies from the rubble, told Reuters

There has been no confirmation from locals if the mosque had been receiving any threats.

The injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Express 24/7 correspondent Umer Farooq said up to 48 injured and 12 bodies were received at Khyber Teaching Hospital.

"More than 33 people have been killed and at least 100 were injured. Our initial report said it was a suicide attack," Mutahar Zeb, the top administrative official of the semi-autonomous district, told AFP.

2:55pm

Iftikhar Khan, an official at the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar told AFP that 40 wounded people had been rushed there alone.

2:45pm

Express 24/7 correspondent Umer Farooq reported up to 30 injured had been brought to Khyber Teaching Hospital. The hospital is understaffed and there is not enough manpower to help the injured.

Children and the elderly are also among the injured.

2:40pm

Eye witnesses claim that the blast was a suicide attack. They said that the blast took place inside the mosque's hall.

The suicide bomber was aged between 15-16 years, said witnesses.

Around 400 people were present inside the mosque when the blast took place.

“At least 24 people have been killed and more than 70 were injured. The bomb blast took place inside the mosque," Mutahar Zeb, the top administrative official of the semi-autonomous district, told AFP.

2:35pm

Local sources say over 100 people have been injured as a result of the blast.

Eye-witnesses said body parts were seen inside the mosque after the explosion.

Mosques in the areas had been receiving threats from banned militant organisation.

Ansar-ul Islam and Lashkar-e-Islam have been targetting the area for some time.

2:30pm

Reports from the area say up to 40 people were killed and 80 injured in the blast.

A portion of the mosque collapsed following the blast.

The injured and bodies have been shifted to Hayatabad Medical Complex.

"It was a bomb blast. Seven people were killed and more than 50 were injured inside the mosque. Hundreds of people were gathered to offer their prayers on Friday," Sayed Ahmed Jan, a senior administrative official, told AFP.

2: 20pm

Initial reports from the area say 15 to 20 people were killed when the blast took place during Friday prayers. Local sources said 25 to 30 people had also been injured.

The nature of the blast has not been determined.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and rescue efforts are currently underway.

The injured and bodies have been shifted to nearby hospitals.