Explosion near mosque in Pakistan’s Kohat injures at least 20

At least 20 people were injured in an explosion near a mosque in Kohat district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, with rescue teams responding to the incident, officials said.

According to police and hospital officials, the injured were being transported to the District Headquarters Hospital in Kohat after the blast.

Police closed the Kohat-Hangu Road to traffic and more personnel were called in the area around police lines, Dunya News reported.

What caused the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials had not said whether the blast was accidental or deliberate and no group had immediately claimed responsibility.

While the injured were being treated, rescue and security teams remained on the scene.

Militant violence and other security incidents have also recurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to Official Provincial Data, Rescue 1122 responded to 17 explosions, including cylinder explosions and other incidents, throughout the province in August.

Authorities were to give more details on casualties and the circumstances of Friday’s blast.