KOHAT, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – In a recent violent incident in northwestern Pakistan, authorities report that 23 individuals lost their lives during an assault on the Old Police Lines complex in Kohat on September 18, with 91 others sustaining injuries. The attack targeted the police facility during Friday prayers, beginning with a vehicle laden with explosives detonating near the mosque within the compound. Following this, armed assailants entered the premises and opened fire. Emergency services from Rescue 1122 responded by transporting the injured to hospitals, while security forces cordoned off the area and initiated a clearance operation.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police announced that eight of the attackers were killed as security teams combed through the compound overnight. The fight persisted across several buildings until the authorities secured the site on Saturday. The Old Police Lines complex serves as the district police headquarters and hosts the Counter Terrorism Department along with the Special Branch. Police reports indicate that after the initial blast, attackers reached other sections of the compound, exchanging gunfire with security personnel during the operation.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, stated that emergency teams retrieved 23 bodies and assisted 91 injured individuals from the scene. As investigations progressed and more victims were taken to hospitals, the casualty figures were updated. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later confirmed that among the dead were 17 police officers and six civilians. Authorities also reported destruction of government and private property surrounding the complex due to the blast, gunfire, and grenade attacks.
Investigation Launched Following Police Complex Assault
Following the attack, the Counter Terrorism Department initiated a case at the Kohat police station. The initial report includes charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and other related offenses. The document states that the assailants drove a vehicle packed with explosives toward the mosque area before storming the Police Lines armed with firearms and hand grenades. The suspects remain unidentified, and investigators have begun collecting evidence from the damaged sections of the compound.
Security personnel engaged the attackers as military units and CTD teams moved through the site. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later confirmed that the security operation concluded with all eight attackers shot dead. The teams also cleared the Special Branch area, which had been breached during the assault. Authorities completed searches of the main buildings and adjacent sections before ending the operation, allowing investigators and emergency personnel access once again.
Friday Prayer Gathering Disrupted by Explosion and Gunfire
The assault targeted one of Kohat’s principal police facilities while officers and worshippers gathered for Friday prayers. An explosion caused a large crater near the mosque and damaged the surrounding area. Gunfire persisted after the vehicle explosion, as attackers moved deeper into the compound. Security teams then conducted thorough room-by-room searches across the Police Lines before authorities announced the site was secure on Saturday.
The group Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the police case cites unidentified assailants and does not specify any suspects publicly. The Counter Terrorism Department continues to analyze the bombing, gunfire, and grenade incidents as part of the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, authorities are working to identify the deceased attackers and document the extent of casualties and property damage across the Old Police Lines complex.