Bomb blast hits Nigerian mosque

A bomb blast hit the central mosque of Nigeria's Kano state Friday as people gathered for prayers, officials and witnesses said.

The bomb ripped through the mosque, located near the Emir's palace, in the afternoon, Xinhua quoted Ikechukwu Eze, spokesperson of the Military Joint Task Force in the state, as saying.

The military officer declined to give official figure of casualties, saying security operatives had immediately cordoned off the area to pave way for a smooth rescue operation by emergency workers.

Witnesses, however, said pandemonium gripped the area as sporadic gunshots followed the explosion, thereby causing fears of heavy casualties.

Unconfirmed reports said three bombs exploded near the mosque headed by Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Friday. However, security reports said Sanusi was safe, though he was in the mosque at the time of the incident.