10 killed in Pakistan mosque blast

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured in a blast in a mosque in the troubled Khyber tribal region in northwest Pakistan on Thursday.

The blast occurred in the mosque situated in Akakhel area of Tirah valley in Khyber just as people were gathering for prayers. Parts of the mosque collapsed and several structures around it were damaged in the blast. Initial reports put the death toll at 10.

Several others were also injured, officials and local residents said.

The nature of the blast could not immediately be ascertained. Security forces are battling militants associated with the banned Lashkar-e-Islam in the area where the blast occurred.

The Lashkar-e-Islam is also engaged in a turf war with another militant group, the Ansar-ul-Islam.