Premature blast spares congregation

The attack left the mosque partially damaged.

PESHAWAR:

A mosque in the limits of Badabher Police Station was partially damaged after unidentified militants planted a timed explosive device at the Shahabkhel mosque in Badabher village, in an apparent attempt to target the Friday congregation, according to the police.

The bomb went off prematurely, sparing any loss of lives, but damaged the mosque structure. The bomb detonated 90 minutes before the usually 150-strong congregation was due to gather at the mosque in the suburbs of Peshawar.

The area where the blast took place is some 10 kilometres south of the provincial capital.

The law enforcers have further beefed up the security in the area and banned parking of vehicles outside the mosque.

Earlier on Wednesday, at least 43 people were killed, and 47 injured, in a suicide attack during a funeral in Adezai village. Meanwhile, a child sustained injuries after a gas pipeline exploded in Wazir Bagh Road area of Peshawar.

The child, identified as Umair, was shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.

The bomb disposal unit said the blast was caused due to gas leakage from the pipeline.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2011.