KANO, Nigeria — Explosions tore through the central mosque in Nigeria’s second-largest city Friday, killing 35 people, police said.
About 150 others were injured in the blasts in the city of Kano, said State Deputy Police Commissioner Sanusi Lemu.
Hundreds had gathered to listen to a sermon in a region terrorized by attacks from the militant group Boko Haram.
Witnesses said smoke could be seen billowing in the sky from a long distance away. After the blasts, hundreds of youths took to the streets in riots, throwing stones, brandishing sticks and shouting at security officials.
The palace of the Emir of Kano is near the central mosque. Palace officials said that the Emir, one of the highest ranking Islamic figures in Nigeria, is out of the country.
Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility, but the attack bears the hallmarks of the militant group, which has carried out numerous such attacks in northern Nigeria.
In September, two suicide bombers killed at least 15 students at a government college. In July, five suicide bombings were carried out over the course of a week. More than 1,500 have been killed this year in the insurgency.
Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan condemned the attack and reiterated the government’s determination to “continue to take every step to put an end to the reprehensible acts of all groups and persons involved in acts of terrorism.”
He called on all Nigerians “to remain united to confront the common enemy” by being vigilant and cooperating with security agencies.
