Hundreds of people were killed and hundreds more were injured in blasts that struck two regions in Pakistan on Friday, according to health and police officials.
The first incident occurred during a procession to commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, which is a public holiday, near a mosque in the Mastung area of the southwestern province of Balochistan.
Those injured in the blast were sent to nearby hospitals, several of whom were in critical condition.
Provincial caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai reported that the death toll had increased to 40, with 60 persons injured.
According to the local Dawn newspaper, district health official Abdul Rasheed Shahi, 52 persons died.
The data could not be confirmed by Anadolu.
Jan Achakzai had told Anadolu earlier that the incident was most likely a suicide attack, and announced three days of mourning.
Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said rescue and relief operations were underway after the “heinous act,” adding that “we’re committed to a zero-tolerance policy against terrorists.”
“I assure you that the state stands with the oppressed, our forces are strong, we will find their facilitators, destroy their training centers and go against them to the last extent,” Bugti said in a separate video statement.
President Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar also condemned the attack and asked authorities to provide all possible assistance to the injured and the victims’ families.
A second blast occurred inside a mosque in the Hangu district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. At least four people were killed, and 12 others injured, said Fazal Akbar, the district’s deputy commissioner.
A second explosion happened inside a mosque in the Hangu area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s northern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to Fazal Akbar, the district’s deputy commissioner, at least four persons were murdered and 12 others were injured.
“There were two blasts … police hit the first suicide bomber outside the mosque’s gate, while the second one managed to enter inside and blew himself up,” Akbar stated in a video statement.
According to Akbar, some 60 to 70 people had gathered for Friday prayers, but owing to the firing, the majority had fled and thus escaped unharmed.