Suicide bomber kills 25 at mosque in northwest Pakistan

Peshawar, Sep 16 (PTI) At least 25 people, including fivechildren, were killed and 30 others injured when a suicidebomber shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ blew himself up inside a mosquepacked with worshippers for Friday prayers in Mohmand Agencyin Pakistan’s restive northwest tribal region. The attacker blew himself when the prayers were inprogress at the mosque in the Anbar tehsil of the agencybordering Afghanistan. "A suicide bomber was in the mosque. He shouted ‘AllahuAkbar’ and blew himself up," Assistant Political Agent NaveedAkbar told reporters. He said that Friday prayers were being offered around 2 PMwhen the powerful blast took place. At least 25 people, including five children, were killedin the attack and 30 others injured, Pakistani media reported,citing officials. "Many people were gathered inside the mosque when asuicide bomber blew himself up," an eyewitness said. Rescue teams and police rushed to the spot. The bodies andthe injured are being shifted to local hospitals for medicaltreatment. Injured were also taken to hospitals in Bajaur Agency,Charsadda and Peshawar for treatment. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, butPakistani Taliban routinely targets courts, schools andmosques. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his grief overthe loss of lives in the blast. "The cowardly attacks by terrorists cannot shatter thegovernment’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country,"he said in a statement. The attack came on a day when Sharif vowed to continue thewar against militancy and terrorism till elimination of thelast terrorist. During a meeting with Army chief General Raheel Shariftoday, the prime minister expressed the resolve to continuethe war against terrorism and militancy. The army had launched operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ in June 2014to flush out militant bases in the northwestern tribal areas.PTI AYZ/MZ/ZH CPS AKJCPS