A vehicle loaded with explosives exploded near a mosque inside a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during Friday prayers. The attack was followed by gunfire after armed attackers entered the police compound, leaving at least 21 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to officials.
The attack took place at the old Police Lines compound in Kohat. According to officials, at around 1:20 p.m. local time on Friday, an explosives-laden vehicle reached the boundary wall of the police compound near the mosque and exploded. Friday prayers were underway at the time.
After the explosion, several armed attackers entered the police compound and moved towards locations associated with the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department. A gunfight then broke out between security forces and the attackers. Police said seven attackers entered the compound and all of them were killed during the operation.
According to initial reports from district health officials and hospitals, 21 people were killed in the attack. The dead included 15 police personnel and six civilians. More than 100 people were reported injured. Information from two hospitals in Kohat indicated that 103 injured people were brought in, including 73 police personnel and 30 civilians.
Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition. Hospital authorities said some patients were transferred to major medical centres in Peshawar for further treatment. Five injured people also underwent abdominal surgery.
The dead reportedly included Dr Israel Khan Orakzai, a paediatrician at a hospital in Kohat. Senior police officer Akbar Shinwari was also among those killed in the attack.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the attackers entered the Police Lines after the vehicle exploded. Some attackers moved towards the Counter-Terrorism Department building, while others headed towards the Special Branch. Security forces responded and killed several attackers.
A search and clearance operation was carried out across the compound after the incident. Police officials said the operation continued to eliminate the attackers and locate their associates. Initial reports also indicated that one attacker may have been hiding inside the compound.
The explosion caused extensive damage to the mosque and the police compound. Videos from the scene showed people helping the injured amid the debris and ambulances arriving at the site.
No organisation immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in the initial hours. According to a Reuters report, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, later denied involvement in the attack.
Pakistani media subsequently reported that Ittehadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, had claimed responsibility for the attack. The claim was reported by different sources.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police used the term “Fitna-al-Khawarij”, a term used by Pakistani authorities for militants associated with the TTP, in reference to the attack. However, differences emerged in reporting over the claims of responsibility and the identity of the attacking organisation.
The Kohat attack occurred amid increased militant violence in Pakistan’s areas bordering Afghanistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in particular, has witnessed attacks targeting police and military installations. In recent months, clashes between security forces and various Islamist militant organisations have intensified.
The Pakistani government has alleged that some militants use bases in Afghanistan to plan and train for attacks in Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has rejected the allegation and has described the issue as Pakistan’s internal problem.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Kohat attack and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. The prime minister sought a report from officials on the incident and directed that immediate medical assistance be provided to the injured.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials also condemned the attack and directed that necessary resources be made available for the treatment of the injured in hospitals. Ambulances and a large number of rescue workers were deployed as part of the rescue operation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack. According to the United Nations, attacks targeting civilians and religious sites are unacceptable.
