Deadly Friday: Kano mosque explosions 'kill dozens' [Pix + Video]

Dozens of people have been killed in explosions during Friday prayers at one of the biggest mosques in the Nigerian city of Kano, reports say.

Many more people have been hurt, with one rescue official putting casualty figures at just under 200. The Central Mosque is where the influential Muslim leader, the Emir of Kano, usually leads prayers. The emir recently called for people to arm themselves against Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The group has been waging an insurgency in Nigeria since 2009 and has killed more than 2,000 people this year, rights groups say.

'People screaming'
Some reports said there was gunfire in Kano after the explosions.
The rescue official, speaking to Agence France-Presse, put the casualty toll at 64 dead and 126 hurt, although this has not been independently confirmed.

One worshipper, Aminu Abdullahi, told the agency: "Two bombs exploded, one after the other, in the premises of the mosque seconds after the prayers had started."

He said the third blast was on a nearby road.

One local reporter, Chijjani Usman, told Reuters he was "face to face with people screaming".
BBC Hausa editor Mansur Liman said one witness at a local hospital had described the scenes there as being the most horrible he had ever seen.

Our editor says Boko Haram will be the main suspects, as the attack bore all the hallmarks of the group.
No-one from the group has yet commented.
Boko Haram has stepped up attacks against civilian targets since the Nigerian military launched an offensive last year.

Boko Haram was also behind the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno state this year, an act that sparked international outrage.

Download

Source: BBC