Islamabad - At least 12 people were killed and more than three dozen injured on Wednesday in a bomb-and-gun attack on a mosque in north-west Pakistan, reports said.

Unknown gunmen hurled hand grenades and then opened fire as people were offering late night prayers in a mosque in the Maskai area of Dir in North West Frontier Province.

Local police chief told English-language DawnNews channel that 12 people were confirmed dead and more than 37 were injured.

The death toll was feared to rise as many of the injured were in critical condition, according to the report.

Urdu-language Geo TV put the death toll at 25 while citing official sources.

Maskai is a far-flung village located on the Afghan border and no ambulance service is available there. Locals were moving the dead and injured to hospital in nearby town of Timergrih on private vehicles.

The motive behind the attack was unclear. (dpa)