LAHORE MIRROR — At least 16 people, including five police personnel and 11 civilians, were killed and more than 50 others injured in a suspected suicide bombing near the old Police Lines in Kohat during Friday prayers on Friday, officials said.
According to police, an explosives-laden vehicle rammed the gate of the old Police Lines, triggering a powerful explosion. The blast created a crater outside a mosque, severely damaged its outer section and caused a wall to collapse.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid said gunfire also erupted after the blast, followed by another suicide explosion near the Special Branch building. Police and security personnel engaged the attackers, killing one militant, according to the Central Police Office.
The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, where an emergency was declared. Medical Superintendent Tahir Ali Shah said 15 bodies and more than 50 injured people had initially been brought to the facility.
The Kohat-Hangu Road was closed to traffic following the incident, while additional police personnel were deployed around the Police Lines. Rescue teams continued relief operations at the site, where nearby buildings were also damaged.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and sought a detailed report from police authorities. He directed officials to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured and arrangements for shifting critically wounded patients to other hospitals.
Mr Afridi said such attacks could not undermine the nation’s resolve against terrorism.
