At least 16 people, including five police officers, were killed when a vehicle packed with explosives struck a mosque near the police headquarters in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A gunbattle between attackers and security forces is ongoing and one assailant has reportedly been killed. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack. Authorities described it as a possible suicide attack while no group has yet claimed responsibility.
Explosive-Laden Vehicle Rams Mosque Near Kohat Police HQ — At Least 16 Dead
The blast occurred at a mosque building near police headquarters [Reuters]
At least 16 people, including five police officers, were killed after a vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into a mosque close to the police headquarters in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, north‑western Pakistan, a senior police official in Peshawar said.
Attack and Response
A gunbattle between the attackers and security forces is ongoing at the mosque. Authorities reported that one of the assailants has been killed and that rescue teams and emergency services are operating at the scene. A major rescue operation and cordon remain in place as officials secure the area and tend to the wounded.
[EPA]
Official Reactions
President Asif Ali Zardari offered his “best wishes for the swift recovery of those injured in the explosion.” Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and security personnel.
Investigation And Context
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Inspector General Zulfikar Hameed described the incident as a “suicide attack,” according to Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Pakistani authorities have accused militants of using safe havens in Afghanistan to plan and train for attacks inside Pakistan; Afghanistan’s Taliban government rejects that charge, calling militancy a domestic Pakistani problem.
Note: Militancy and attacks targeting military and police personnel in Pakistan's border regions have increased in recent months.
Further details, including the number of injured and the identities of the attackers, remain under investigation. Agencies at the scene continue to provide updates.
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