In Dhaka, Bangladesh, an explosion in a mosque killed at least 12 people.

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Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP

At least twelve people have been killed and dozens more suffered serious burns in an explosion, possibly due to a gas leak, at a mosque in Bangladesh, police said on Saturday.

Investigators suspect that a spark caused by an air conditioner after a power failure caused a gas leak.

The 12 killed are among 37 people in critical condition who were admitted to a hospital specializing in burns in Dhaka, according to Samanta Lal Sen, spokesperson for the establishment.

He added that all were suffering from burns between 70 and 80 degrees.

A fireball in the mosque

Worshipers were taking part in evening prayers on Friday when the explosion caused a fireball in the mosque, according to emergency services.

"There was a gas leak in the mosque," Abdallah Al-Arefin, the fire chief of Narayanganj, the area where the tragedy occurred, told AFP.

“When they closed the windows and doors and turned on the air conditioners, there was an electric spark that caused the explosion inside the mosque,” ​​he added.

Police say at least 45 people were injured in the blast.

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