Blast near mosque in Kohat, Pakistan kills 16, injures over 50
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
At least 16 people were killed and over 50 injured in a massive explosion near a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Friday, local media reported, citing officials.
The blast occurred near the old police lines in Kohat district, located about 60 kilometers southwest of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to officials, the explosion took place while Friday prayers were being held at the mosque.
According to a report by ‘Anadolu Agency,
the blast was so powerful that it created a large crater outside the mosque. Several police personnel were among the injured. All the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals, and roads leading to the site have been closed.
Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated that,
emergency teams were dispatched to the site as soon as the explosion was reported. The rescue operation is ongoing, and officials are assessing the situation.
Initial reports regarding the site of the incident provided conflicting information. Rescue officials initially stated that the blast occurred near the old police lines, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed reported that the explosion took place inside the mosque located within the police lines compound.
According to the police,
a suicide bomber detonated explosives near the Special Branch building. Initial reports also suggested the possibility of a vehicle laden with explosives colliding with the police lines. However, the exact nature of the attack has not been officially confirmed yet.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Geo News reported, citing Tahir Ali Shah, the medical superintendent of the district headquarters hospital, that 16 bodies and over 50 injured individuals were brought to the hospital following the explosion.
According to the police, most of the injured are worshippers. The blast was so powerful that it created a large crater outside the mosque.
Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, mentioned that rescue teams arrived at the scene as soon as the incident was reported and began relief and rescue operations. He noted that several injured individuals have been admitted to nearby hospitals for initial treatment.
Rescue teams are still present at the site and assessing the situation. A police statement indicated that gunfire erupted between armed attackers and security forces following the explosion. The Inspector General of Police has directed the regional police officer of Kohat to submit a detailed report of the incident and ensure better medical facilities for the injured.
The Ministry of Home Affairs of Pakistan confirmed the explosion near the police compound in Kohat on the social media platform ‘X’ and expressed condolences to the victims' families. However, the ministry did not provide an official count of the casualties.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the affected families. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a series of terrorist attacks in recent years, and this explosion occurred at a time when serious concerns about security persist in the province.
Media reports suggest that the Pakistani Taliban is suspected to be behind this attack, officially known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In recent years, the TTP has intensified attacks on security personnel and civilians. In 2023, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the deaths of 101 people.
This organization operates independently of the Afghan Taliban but maintains an alliance with them. The Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan has consistently accused Kabul of sheltering the TTP and ignoring cross-border terrorist attacks. However, the Afghan government has denied these allegations.
Note: This news is still being updated.