KOHAT: A powerful explosion struck near a mosque inside the Police Lines area of Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday during Jummah prayers, leaving dozens of people injured.
According to police, the blast occurred near the gate of the old Police Lines, where the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) office is also located. The explosion caused severe damage to the outer wall of the mosque, and a boundary wall collapsed as a result.
Rescue 1122 teams reached the site immediately after the incident and launched relief operations. According to Rescue spokesperson, the injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals via ambulances, with 35 personnel working at the scene.
Police said at least 20 injured, including police personnel, have been moved to hospital. DHQ Hospital Kohat’s administration has declared an emergency.
As a precaution, the Kohat-Hangu Road has been closed to traffic, and additional security forces have been deployed in the area.
Initial reports on the nature of the blast varied. Some sources suggested it may have been accidental, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told a private TV channel that an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the old Police Lines before detonating, followed by an exchange of gunfire. He said it was a suicide attack, and that a second suicide blast occurred at the Special Branch building during the ensuing firing.
An official, confirmed death toll has not yet been released. Some reports cite 15 deaths and more than 50 injured, though this remains a developing situation and details are subject to change.
