Kohat mosque blast kills 21 as suicide attackers hit Pakistan police lines

A suicide assault during Friday prayers at a Kohat mosque near police lines killed 21 people and injured 78. The strike underscored rising militancy in Pakistan as leaders vowed tougher action and relief.

In Short

• Most casualties were policemen attending Friday prayers at the mosque
• An explosives-laden vehicle breached the old police lines gate before exploding
• Gunfire followed as seven militants fought police and counter-terror teams

At least 21 people, most of them policemen, were killed and 78 others injured in a suicide blast at a mosque during Friday prayers near the police lines in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said on Friday.

The attack took place in Kohat district when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the old police lines complex, triggering a blast and a gunfight with militants. A little-known group, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, claimed responsibility. Police said six militants, including suicide bombers and snipers, had been killed so far.

District Health Officer Kohat Dr Nasir Hussain said the dead included 16 police personnel and five civilians. The mosque is located near the old police lines in Kohat, around 60 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital Peshawar.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid said an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the old police lines. "The vehicle hit the gate and then exploded, and firing also took place," he said, adding that another suicide blast occurred at the Special Branch building during the exchange of fire with terrorists.

Police said seven armed militants entered the police lines, where police and the Counter-Terrorism Department engaged them in a gun battle. Security officials said the area had been cordoned off. The blast during Friday prayers left a crater outside the mosque, severely damaged its exterior and caused a wall to collapse. Most of those injured were worshippers, and video footage from the site showed bodies lying inside the mosque. Rescue officials said nearby buildings were also damaged.

The injured, including police personnel, were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where an emergency was declared, hospital Medical Superintendent Tahir Ali Shah said. Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said teams reached the site soon after receiving the information and launched a rescue operation. Police said the Kohat-Hangu Road had been closed to traffic and extra police contingents deployed near the police lines.

The Central Police Office in Peshawar said six militants had been killed so far, including suicide bombers and snipers. Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, described as an alliance of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Harakat Inqilab-e-Islami Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam, was formed in April 2025.

After the blast, Hamid sought a report from the district's regional police officer and directed authorities to ensure timely and the best possible medical treatment for the injured. "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police stands as an iron wall against terrorism, and such cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve," he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and said the complete elimination of foreign-sponsored terrorists was "essential for national security". Sharif also sought a report from the concerned authorities and directed them to expedite relief operations, according to Radio Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the blast, saying the "entire nation stands with the security forces to eradicate terrorism", while Provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also sought a report from the police chief.

The attack in Kohat left 21 people dead and 78 injured, damaged the mosque and nearby buildings, and led to a major security and rescue response. Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror activities in recent years, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

With PTI Inputs

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