KOHAT: A suicide bombing during Friday prayers near a police lines complex in Kohat killed 21 people, including 15 police officers, and wounded 103 others, officials said.
The blast occurred during Friday prayers and caused a crater outside the mosque, severely damaging its exterior and collapsing part of a wall, police said.
Kohat Medical Superintendent Dr. Tahir said six civilians and 15 police personnel were among those killed. The wounded included 73 police officers and 30 civilians.
Among those killed was Dr. Israel Khan Orakzai, chief district specialist at Liaquat Memorial Hospital, he said.
Of the 103 wounded, 90 were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital and 13 to Liaquat Memorial Hospital. Four patients were later referred to hospitals in Peshawar, while 34 injured people remained under treatment, Dr. Tahir said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told Geo News that a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into the gate of the old police lines before exploding. Gunfire also erupted, followed by another suicide blast at the Special Branch building, he said.
The Central Police Office in Peshawar said seven armed militants had entered the police lines and that police and counterterrorism personnel engaged them. Six militants, including a suicide bomber and a sniper, had been killed, it said.
Security forces and police cordoned off the area as rescue operations continued.
Emergency declared at DHQ Hospital
An emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Hospital, where several wounded police officers were being treated, hospital officials said.
Police closed the Kohat-Hangu Road to traffic and deployed additional personnel around the police lines.
Rescue officials said nearby buildings were also damaged in the blast and rescue operations were continuing at the scene.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and sought a detailed report from police officials.
He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made major sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and that such attacks would not weaken the nation’s resolve.
