PESHAWAR: A bomb prematurely exploded inside a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern capital of Peshawar shortly before prayers on Friday but caused no loss of life, police said.

The bomb detonated 90 minutes before the usually 150-strong congregation was due to gather at the mosque in Badaber village in the suburbs of Peshawar city.

“It was a timed device and the target was the Friday gathering but it exploded prematurely,” Kalam Khan, a senior police officer, told AFP, adding that the bomb caused only slight damage to the building.

Mohammad Ijaz Khan, another senior police officer, confirmed the incident, the sixth bomb to hit the country in nine days.

Militants in Pakistan frequently target mosques and religious gatherings.

More than 4,000 people have died in suicide and bomb attacks throughout Pakistan since 2007.