Pakistan: Bomb Blast At Jamia Haqqania Seminary Kills 5, Injures Dozens In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A powerful bomb exploded at a mosque within the Jamia Haqqania seminary in northwestern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, killing at least five worshippers and injuring many others just before the start of Ramzan, according to local police.

The explosion occurred in Akkora Khattak, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said Abdul Rashid, the district police chief. Authorities are currently investigating the incident, and emergency responders are transporting the dead and wounded to nearby hospitals.

Pakistan (🇵🇰): Blast reported inside the Madrassa-e-Haqqania, Akora Khattak, in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Initial, but unconfirmed, reports suggest a suicide bomber blew himself up during the Friday afternoon prayer. pic.twitter.com/60oZoE3Pjv

— Vineet (@cozyduke_apt29) February 28, 2025

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on Jamia Haqqania, a seminary known for its strong ties to the Afghan Taliban, as reported by the Associated Press.

The bombing took place just before the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, which is set to begin on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the moon sighting.

Jamia Haqqania, often referred to as the "University of Jihad," is known for its hardline ideology and for producing many Taliban fighters. The seminary has a vast campus housing approximately 4,000 students, who receive free education, food, and clothing.

For decades, Pakistani madrassas have played a significant role in fostering militancy, providing religious education to thousands of refugees with limited educational opportunities while promoting extremist teachings through radical clerics.