The explosion took place near a mosque in the northwestern region. — Photo by Reuters

PESHAWAR: At least 10 people were killed and 37 injured when a powerful bomb exploded in a mosque in Akbarpura near here after Friday prayers. The mosque is adjacent to the historic shrine of Akhun Panjo Baba.

Nowshera district police chief Quresh Khan said the explosion took place when people were eating meal distributed at the shrine after Friday prayers.

He said about 1,200 people had offered prayers before the attack.

A time-device containing over 2kgs of explosives and ball bearings had been placed on a shoe rack.

He said police had been deployed at all main mosques and shrines, including those of Kaka Sahib, Bahadur Baba and Mast Baba.

He said about 96,000 people displaced from other districts and tribal regions were living in Jalozai and the terrorists might have come from there.

The caretakers of the mosque and the shrine had not received any threat. He said police had cordoned off the area and launched a search for the attackers.

The explosion left a crater in the mosque compound and smashed doors and windows. Some of the injured admitted to the Lady Reading Hospital said they were having meal when the explosion took place.

Shazia, a journalist from Akbarpura village, said hundreds of women and children visited the 400-year-old shrine everyday.

The hospital’s chief executive told repor-ters that five bodies, including one of a child, and 30 injured people had been brought. Four of the injured died in the hospital and the condition of seven others was critical.

Those reported dead are: Waheed Khan, 25; Shahid, 18; Rehman Gul, 60; Faqir Ali, 70; Mohammad Nawaz, 18; Zafar Khan; Ihsan, 33; Tahir, 40; and Moeen Khan, 9.

A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said an injured man, Noor Ali, had died in the Pabbi Hospital.

He said seven injured people had been admitted to the hospital. Most of the victims belong to Taro Jabba and Akbarpura villages.

Khyber Phakhtunkhwa’s Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour condemned the blast and said all resources were being used to overcome militancy, but that would take time.

He said more financial help was required to equip the law-enforcement personnel with modern weapons.