BREAKING: Bloodbath at Pakistan Mosque as Suicide Blast Kills 21, Injures 103

Bloodbath at Pakistan Mosque as Suicide Blast Kills 21, Injures 103

BREAKING: Bloodbath at Pakistan Mosque as Suicide Blast Kills 21, Injures 103

KOHAT, Pakistan — Friday prayers turned into a scene of horror in Pakistan on Friday as a powerful suicide attack ripped through a mosque inside a police compound in Kohat, leaving at least 21 people dead and 103 others injured.

The devastating attack, which struck the Old Police Lines in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, claimed the lives of 15 police personnel and six civilians, while 73 policemen and 30 civilians were injured, according to health officials.

The attack occurred at about 1:20pm local time, when worshippers had gathered for the weekly Friday prayers at the mosque located inside the heavily guarded Police Lines compound.

Eyewitness accounts and initial reports described scenes of panic as a massive explosion tore through the facility, sending debris flying and trapping victims beneath damaged sections of the mosque and surrounding buildings.

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector-General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid, an explosives-laden vehicle was rammed into the gate of the old Police Lines before detonating, unleashing the devastating blast.

The explosion caused extensive damage to the police facility and mosque, with parts of the structure collapsing as worshippers and police officers were caught in the blast.

But the nightmare did not end with the explosion.

As rescue workers rushed to evacuate the wounded, gunfire erupted inside the compound after armed militants reportedly attempted to force their way deeper into the police facility.

A further suicide explosion was also reported near the Special Branch building during the ensuing confrontation between the attackers and security forces.

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Police said seven armed attackers had entered the compound following the initial assault, triggering a fierce firefight involving police and Counter-Terrorism Department personnel.

Security forces eventually killed the attackers, including a suicide bomber and a sniper, as they battled to regain control of the compound.

The scale of the casualties overwhelmed medical facilities in Kohat, forcing the District Headquarters Hospital to declare an emergency.

Ambulances raced to the scene as doctors and medical workers treated scores of victims suffering blast injuries, gunshot wounds and injuries caused by collapsing structures.

Health authorities put the number of injured at 103, with 73 police personnel and 30 civilians among those receiving treatment.

Some of the wounded were reportedly in critical condition, while rescue teams continued searching the damaged compound for possible survivors trapped under debris.

The heavy police casualties were attributed to the location and timing of the attack, with officers among those gathered inside the mosque for Friday prayers.

Among those reportedly killed were SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari and Dr Israel Orakzai, head of the children’s department at DHQ KDA Kohat, according to Pakistani media reports.

Security forces subsequently cordoned off the area and restricted movement around the Police Lines as investigators began examining the scene and searching for explosives or possible accomplices.

The Kohat-Hangu Road was also closed temporarily as security and rescue operations continued.

The attack triggered widespread outrage across Pakistan, with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemning the bombing and mourning the victims.

Sharif directed authorities to ensure that the injured received immediate and adequate medical treatment while security agencies were ordered to investigate the attack.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the assault and directed officials to mobilise available resources for the treatment of the wounded.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed solidarity with the families of those killed and injured, as condemnation poured in from within and outside Pakistan.

Countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Russia, Poland, Australia and Jordan also condemned the attack and expressed sympathy with the victims and their families.

The Kohat bombing comes against the backdrop of an escalating militant threat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of Pakistan’s most violence-prone regions.

The province, which shares a border with Afghanistan, has witnessed repeated attacks targeting police, soldiers and civilians.

The latest bloodshed also came shortly after a roadside bombing in neighbouring Hangu district reportedly killed six soldiers, further raising security concerns in the region.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused militants linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of using hideouts in Afghanistan to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have consistently rejected allegations that they permit their territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.

Responsibility for the Kohat attack remained disputed in the immediate aftermath.

While later reports attributed a claim to a faction associated with the TTP, other reports said the TTP denied involvement. Security authorities have therefore continued investigations to establish the identity of those behind the attack and determine whether others assisted the attackers.

The deadly incident has also drawn painful memories of the January 2023 Police Lines mosque bombing in Peshawar, in which more than 100 people, mostly police officers, were killed.

For residents of Kohat, Friday’s attack once again turned a place of worship into a battlefield, leaving families searching for loved ones and hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of casualties.

As security agencies combed through the wreckage and investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the assault, the death toll and number of injured remained subject to further updates.

At least 21 people are confirmed dead and 103 injured in the latest official figures, with fears that the casualty figures could change as authorities complete rescue and medical operations.