At least 16 people have been killed and more than 50 injured after an explosives-laden vehicle struck a police compound containing a mosque in Kohat, northwestern Pakistan, during Friday prayers. Five police officers are among those killed, while security forces have been engaged in a gun battle with attackers at the scene.
Highlights
- At least 16 people have been killed.
- Five police officers are among the deceased.
- More than 50 people have been injured.
- An explosives-laden vehicle struck the police compound.
- Security forces launched an operation against the attackers.
Main Story
Deadly Attack Hits Kohat Police Compound
A deadly attack has struck a mosque located within a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving at least 16 people dead and dozens more injured.
According to Pakistani authorities, the incident happened as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers. Five police officers were among those killed, alongside civilians.
The attack began when a vehicle carrying explosives was driven into the entrance of the Old Police Lines area. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Zulfikar Hameed described the incident as a suicide attack.
Gun Battle Follows Explosion
The explosion was followed by an exchange of gunfire between security personnel and armed attackers inside the police compound.
Officials said one attacker was killed during the operation, while rescue teams worked to evacuate the injured. Some reports put the number of wounded at about 57, with several victims receiving treatment at local hospitals.
The blast caused significant damage to the mosque and nearby structures, while emergency teams continued searching the area and assisting victims.
Leaders Condemn Attack
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed concern for those injured.
Zardari conveyed his wishes for the quick recovery of the wounded, while Sharif directed authorities to accelerate rescue and relief efforts.
No group had initially claimed responsibility for the attack. The Pakistan Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), later denied involvement, according to Reuters.
Rising Tensions Near Afghanistan Border
The attack comes amid heightened militant violence in Pakistan’s northwestern areas, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused militants of operating from safe havens in Afghanistan and using them to plan attacks inside Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have rejected those accusations and have maintained that militancy inside Pakistan is an internal issue.
The latest attack is expected to add to tensions between the two neighbouring countries as Pakistani authorities continue operations against armed groups.
As rescue efforts continue, the attack leaves another painful reminder of the human cost of escalating violence in the region.
