SWABI, Oct 15: The bomb disposal squad defused an explosive device planted outside a mosque in Tarakai area, police said here on Saturday.

Police said MNA Usman Tarakai, MPA Javed Tarakai and former district nazim Shahram Tarakai were the apparent target of the sabotage attempt. They quoted locals as telling them that two people riding a motorcycle showed up at the mosque adjacent to the house of the Tarakais after sunset on Friday, placed a crate and left.

The worshippers called in police after developing suspicion about the crate. Police rushed to the place and found a bomb inside the crate. The bomb disposal squad was called in, which defused it.

Police said the bomb weighing around five kilogrammes was to target MNA Usman Tarakai, MPA Javed Tarakai and former district nazim Shahram Tarakai, who offered Maghrib prayers at the mosque.

Meanwhile, another bomb planted at the entrance to Quaid-i-Azam Public School, Swabi Branch (Boys Section) went off early on Saturday.

The blast partially damaged the building and injured the watchman, Juma Dad Khan. It was the first time that a private educational institution was targeted in the area by terrorists. — Correspondent