Twin explosions kill dozens of worshippers in Pakistan amid celebrations

Dozens of people were killed and many others injured in blasts that hit two provinces in Pakistan on Friday, health and police officials said.

The first attack was at a procession to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, which is a public holiday, near a mosque in the Mastung district of the southwestern province of Balochistan.

According to Local Dawn newspaper, quoting district health officer Abdul Rasheed Shahi, “52 people lost their lives,” but the figures have not been confirmed.

A second blast took place inside a mosque in the Hangu district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing five people, and leaving 12 others injured, said Fazal Akbar, the district’s deputy commissioner.

President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked authorities to provide all possible assistance to the injured and the victims’ families.