At least 56 people were killed and 123 injured in a suicide attack inside Mandokhel Masjid in the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency, private TV channels reported on Friday.
Quoting locals, the channels reported 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.
The channels 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 in Peshawar. The political administration has announced compensations of Rs50,000 each for the families of the deceased and Rs25,000 for those injured.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
56 worshippers killed in Jamrud mosque attack
