Peshawar peace disrupted again; blasts outside mosque

Peshawar: At least five worshippers were reportedly killed and 40 others were injured after unidentified persons attacked a Shiite mosque in Pakistan’s restive northwest during Friday prayers. 

The mosque was targeted in Hayatabad area of Peshawar, capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Heavy firing was reported, where residents said a thick cloud of smoke had engulfed the Hayatabad’s phase V area. While residents said three explosions took place inside the Imamia Masjid Imambargah at the time of Friday prayers, police did not confirm the blast inside the Shia place of worship.

The nature of explosions was not known yet.

Security and rescue operation teams were dispatched to the area, with forces cordoning off the site for further inspection.

There were also reports that some militants were still in the mosque and are still exchanging fire with security forces. The attack is a reminiscent of Peshawar school attack of Dec 16 that killed at least 150 people including 136 students. 

Late last month, at least 61 people, including children, were killed in a suicide bombing during Friday prayers at a packed minority Shia mosque in Pakistan’s Sindh province, the deadliest sectarian attack to hit the country in recent times. 

Further details are awaited.