KOHAT: At least 21 people were martyred and 103 injured on Friday when a suicide bomber and armed militants attacked a mosque inside the Police Lines compound in Kohat during Friday prayers, officials said.
The attack took place at around 1:20pm at the mosque located within the police compound on Hangu Road, triggering an exchange of fire between security forces and the attackers.
According to a casualty report issued by the District Health Officer and Medical Superintendent in Kohat, 15 police personnel and six civilians were among those martyred. The civilian victims included Dr Israel Khan Aurakzai, a senior paediatric specialist at Liaqat Memorial Hospital.
The report said 73 police officers and 30 civilians were among the injured.
Police said an initial explosion was followed by a suicide bomber detonating himself near the Special Branch building. Between five and seven militants were involved in the assault, while six attackers were killed during the ensuing security operation by police and Counter-Terrorism Department personnel.
Health officials said 90 injured people were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Kohat, while 13 were taken to Liaqat Memorial Hospital. Thirty-four patients were admitted for major surgery, while four critically injured victims were transferred to tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar for specialised treatment.
Earlier casualty estimates had put the death toll at 15 to 16, but the figure increased as health authorities consolidated casualty reports from hospitals across the district.
Rescue 1122 said 14 ambulances, 20 rescue vehicles and a recovery vehicle, along with more than 60 rescue personnel, participated in the rescue and recovery operation.
The blast severely damaged the mosque and surrounding structures, while security forces sealed off the area and launched a clearance operation. The Kohat-Hangu Road was also closed to traffic following the attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid said the provincial police had the capability to eliminate the militants and vowed that the attack would not weaken the force’s morale.
“The blood of the martyrs will not go to waste,” Hamid said, adding that the attackers and their facilitators would face severe consequences.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack, directed authorities to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured and ordered a detailed report into the incident. He also directed officials to shift critically injured patients to other hospitals where necessary.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the attack and directed authorities to provide the best possible medical facilities to the injured, saying the sacrifices made in the fight against terrorism would not go in vain.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed authorities to ensure immediate and comprehensive treatment for the injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and injuries. He directed the relevant authorities to expedite rescue operations, provide the best possible medical care to the victims and submit a report on the nature and causes of the attack.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the blast and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. He said the attack would not weaken the country’s resolve against terrorism.
KP Information Minister Shafi Jan said an emergency had been declared at hospitals in Kohat and directed medical authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. He also visited DHQ Hospital and received a briefing on the condition of those under treatment.
The attack comes amid a resurgence in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan, where security personnel and government installations have increasingly come under attack.
