15 dead, 28 injured as suicide bomber strikes Peshawar mosque

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque during Friday prayers, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more in Gulshan Colony area of the city.

Hospital sources said 28 people were injured in the blast.

Heavy contingent of police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area, following the incident.

DSP Chamkani, Shaukat Khan confirmed that the explosion at the mosque adjacent to the Madrasah Hussainia was caused by a suicide bomber who entered the seminary through the back door.

According to reports, gunshots were also heard before the explosion, which took place in the outskirts of the provincial capital.

An eyewitness Asif Wadood told Geo News by telephone that a suicide bomber entered the seminary and blew himself up while the sermon was being delivered .

"I was in my house when huge explosion took place, there are several people lying injured," he said.

Speaking to Geo News, prayer leader at the mosque said that the blast took place before the sermon. Replying to a query, he said that appropriate security arrangements were not made to avert such an incident. He said the bomber shot dead the security guard before detonating explosives.

In a statement, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack.