Sixteen people were martyred and fifty-seven injured in a bomb blast near the Police Lines Mosque in Kohat today.

According to the security sources, the blast occurred during the Friday prayers.

The injured have been immediately shifted to the Combined Military Hospital Kohat.

Soon after receiving information about the blast, contingents of security forces reached the site.

The security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Further information regarding the nature of the blast and the motives behind the blast is being collected.