At least 21 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a car bomb exploded near a mosque inside a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police say seven attackers then stormed the compound and engaged officers; all seven were killed. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility, and regional and national leaders condemned the attack and called for action.
Car Bomb at Kohat Police Compound Kills 21, Wounds Over 100; Attack Claimed by Pakistani Taliban Faction
An injured man receives medical treatment at Lady Reading Government Hospital following a suicide bomb blast at a mosque in Kohat district, Peshawar, Pakistan. At least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were killed, and more than 100 injured. Photo by Arshad Arbab/EPA
Sept. 18 (UPI) — A car packed with explosives detonated on Friday near a mosque inside a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 100.
Attack Overview
Local police said the blast was followed by a coordinated assault in which roughly seven attackers forced their way into the compound and engaged officers in a gunbattle, according to Dawn. Six assailants, including a suicide bomber, were killed in the initial exchange of fire; the remaining attacker was later cornered and shot dead by police.
Casualties and Impact
Authorities reported that among the dead were 15 police officers and a 4-year-old child. The explosion and subsequent fighting left more than 100 people wounded, many of them police personnel and worshippers who had been at the mosque.
Perpetrators and Claims
Local reporters say the assault was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction, a wing of the Pakistani Taliban that advocates a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Official Response
"The nation's morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism," Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said.
President Asif Ali Zardari called for the "complete elimination" of the group and extended his best wishes for the swift recovery of the injured. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow in a statement posted on X, saying the nation stands with the families of the victims.
Reporting note: Initial details come from local police and Dawn; casualty figures and claims of responsibility are based on those reports and may be updated as investigations continue.
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