PESHAWAR: Three people have been killed and 20 others injured on Thurday night in a hand grenade attack near a mosque in Sarband area late Thursday on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

SHO Badbher Rehmatullah Khan said that militants attacked a security checkpost on the outskirts of Sarband.

The police chased them after which the militants managed to escape to a nearby Pirano Mosque in Achini area.

He added that the militants, after entering the mosque, threw at least four hand grenades which resulted in deaths and injuries.

Around 40 people were present at the time in the area.

“At least 14 to 15 people were picked up and shifted but the deaths could not be confirmed yet,” Khan said.

Emergency Police Response 15 and Recue 1122 told Dawn.com that they had confirmation of at least three people dead and 14 others injured as the injured are being shifted to the nearby Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH).

Dr Muhamad Sadiq, at the KTH Hospital confirmed that they have received two dead and at least 20 others injured so far who are being treated in different wards for multiple injuries.

Medical Superintendent of the KTH Hospital, Dr Muhammad Zafar, also confirmed the deaths of two people in the attack and more than 16 injured.

The Trauma Center of Hayatabad Medical complex cofirmed that they had received one dead and four injured at the hospital.

Eyewitness Ulas Khan told Dawn.com that there was a religious gathering in the Pirano Mosque when the attackers entered, opened indiscriminate fire and than threw hand grenades after which they fled.

He said that at least twenty people were injured and were shifted by locals to the nearby hospital.