World · India Bureau
Suicide blast at Pakistan mosque kills 21, including 16 police officers
A vehicle laden with explosives rammed into a mosque in northwestern Pakistan, triggering a gunfight that claimed at least 21 lives. Police officers made up the majority of the casualties in the attack.
LSN India ·
At least 21 people, including 16 police personnel, were killed in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern region on Monday. The attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the mosque premises, according to police accounts of the incident.
Following the initial explosion, armed militants engaged in an exchange of fire with security forces at the scene. The firefight added to the casualties in what authorities are treating as a coordinated attack.
The high death toll among police personnel suggests the mosque may have been frequented by law enforcement officials or that security forces were gathered in the area. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges faced by Pakistan, which has long battled militant insurgencies in its northwestern territories.
No immediate claim of responsibility was reported. Pakistani security forces have been frequent targets of militant groups operating across the country's border regions.