(Updated)A bomb blast hit Kano Central Mosque in Northern Nigeria as Muslims gathered for the Friday Prayers ,reports said.
A reporter Chijjani Usman told Reuters as the explosion occurred ,”These people have bombed the mosque. I am face to face with people screaming.”
Initial reports said many people were feared killed by explosion. And after an on -the- spot assessment later, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanusi Lemu confirmed 35 people dead .Also, he said 150 others were injured by the blast.
He said there were also gun men who gained entrance into the mosque and they were shooting.But people in the mosque apprehended and killed them instantly.The police have recovered some AK47 riffles used during the attack.
But the death toll had risen overnight.Reports Saturday morning said over 100 people were killed in the blast.Some put the death toll at 200.
The explosions reportedly came from at least two cars parked close to where people had gathered for prayers along the road.
Aside from Friday’s blast ,Kano had witnessed a string of attacks in recent times.A car believed to be laden with IEDs exploded at a petrol stations recently.
Female suicide bombers have also carried out attacks in Kano of late much to the surprise of all.