Suicide Bomb Shakes Two Mosques During Prophet's Birthday Celebration, Dozens Killed And Injured

JAKARTA - The suicide bombing rocked two mosques in a separate location in Pakistan on Friday, leaving dozens dead and injured on Friday, amid the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, police and Pakistani health officials said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion, one of which has left dozens of people trapped under the rubble, local media said.

The first explosion occurred in the southwestern province of Blochistan, killing 52 people, according to district health official Abdul Rasheed.

"The bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle near the Madina Mosque where people were gathered to celebrate," said senior police official Munir Ahmed.

While the second attack occurred in the northwestern neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five people at a mosque according to rescue workers. Meanwhile Geo News reported the roof of the mosque collapsed, causing about 30 to 40 people to be trapped under the rubble.

"Fortunately there was an explosion that occurred at the gate so that the congregation could get out of the mosque, so the number of victims was small," said Deputy Commissioner of Hangu District Fazal Akbar.

Television footage showed hundreds of people helping injured victims by putting them into an ambulance after the incident. At least 58 people were injured, said Abdul Rasheed, a health official, adding that the number of victims could increase because many of them were seriously injured.

The two provinces border Afghanistan, experiencing attacks from militant groups in recent years, aimed at overthrowing the Pakistani government and implementing strict religious law.

Meanwhile, the explosion in Blochistan was a rare attack on civilians as most Islamic militants targeted security forces in the recent wave of attacks.

The militant attack has escalated since 2022 when the ceasefire failed between the government and Pakistan's Tereek-e-Taliban (TTP), the hardline Sunni group.

The TTP, which is responsible for some of Pakistan's bloodiest attacks since its formation in 2007, has denied responsibility for Friday's explosion.

The previous attacks, which were denied by the group, have been claimed by a splinter organization that is not closely related to the TTP.

Separately, the increasing militant attacks have increased the risk to security forces, ahead of elections scheduled for January.