WorldPosted at: Sep 19 2026 1:09AM


21 killed, including 15 police officials, in suicide bombing in Pakistan

Islamabad, Sep 18 (UNI) At least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were killed and over 100 injured on Friday when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities, in Kohat Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, according to police officials.
District Health Officer Dr Nasir Hassan Afridi confirmed the toll to Dawn, adding that three of the injured were in critical condition.
According to officials, SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari and Dr Israel Orakzai, head of the children’s department at DHQ KDA Kohat, were among those killed in the attack.
Police said at least one attacker was holed up inside the compound and a clearance operation was underway.
In a separate statement, the CTD said the Additional IG CTD reached the site of the Kohat attack.
An exchange of fire between CTD personnel and the terrorist was ongoing, the department said, adding that the AIG had entered the police lines to take part in the operation and lead the personnel.
Later in the evening, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed visited the police lines as the clearance operation continued.
According to IG Hameed and police statements, the attack began when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated at the boundary wall near the mosque inside the Kohat Police Lines.
At least seven attackers then breached the compound and headed towards the CTD and Special Branch buildings.
Six attackers, including a suicide bomber, were killed by law enforcers, according to a police statement.
At least one attacker was subsequently cornered, prompting police personnel to launch a clearance operation.
At around 3:30pm, police said the operation was “in its final stages”.
“The operation will continue until the complete elimination of Fitna-ul-Khawarij,” the IG was quoted as saying, adding that the police’s morale remained high. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Dawn reported.
Earlier, television footage from the scene showed citizens gathered beside a building with a collapsed wall, digging through the rubble and helping the injured.
The blast caused extensive damage to the mosque. The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
Separately, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the targeting of innocent citizens was “deeply regrettable and unacceptable". “The nation’s morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism,” he was quoted as saying.
Condemnations poured in. President Asif Ali Zardari, condemning the incident, vowed that the complete elimination of foreign-sponsored terrorists was “essential for national security”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought a report on the blast from the concerned authorities. He also directed authorities to expedite relief operations, Radio Pakistan reported.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the blast, praying for the recovery of the injured.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in his condemnation that terrorists’ “cowardly acts cannot weaken the nation’s resolve”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also strongly condemned the suicide attack in Kohat and expressed his condolences over the deaths of police personnel and civilians.
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