Pakistani mosque bombing kills at least 30

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 5 (UPI) -- The suicide bombing of a mosque in the Upper Dir district of Pakistan's Swat Valley Friday killed at least 30 people, a local police official said.

Atiq Ur Rehman, a district coordination officer, said residents tried to stop the bomber from entering the main gate of the mosque when the explosion occurred in Dir Bala in the Swat Valley of Pakistan's North West Frontier province, CNN reported.

About 40 other people were injured, officials said.

The Swat Valley is where the Pakistani military has engaged in a six-week operation against Taliban militants, but the Upper Dir district hasn't been part of the offensive.

Friday's attack was the latest on civilians in northwestern Pakistan. Militants bombed a girls school near Peshawar on Thursday, damaging several classrooms but resulting in no casualties, CNN reported.

Earlier this week, militants in North Waziristan kidnapped more than 120 students and staff at a graduation ceremony at Razmak Cadet College, officials said. The Pakistani army rescued most of them, and the remaining hostages were freed after tribal elders negotiated their release.

On Monday, militants bombed a bus station in the North West Frontier province city of Kohat, killing two civilians and wounding 18, a police official said.

CNN reported no one has claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.