Pakistan: At least 16 killed, over 50 injured in blast near mosque in Kohat Police Lines

A vehicle-borne suicide bomber struck the gate of Kohat's old Police Lines during Friday prayers, with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen claiming responsibility

PGurus Newsdesk

September 18, 2026

The Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the Kohat blast that targeted a mosque inside a police complex

Hafiz Gul Bahadur group claims Kohat mosque blast that killed 16

At least 16 people, including five police personnel, were killed and more than 50 others injured in an explosion near a mosque inside the Police Lines in Kohat, a district in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Friday. Some early reports from local hospital officials put the toll at 15; the figure has continued to be updated as rescue operations proceeded through the day. The blast happened during Friday prayers, severely damaging the mosque’s outer section and collapsing part of a wall.

How The Attack Unfolded

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said a vehicle loaded with explosives was rammed into the gate of the old Police Lines complex. Some of the assailants then attempted to move toward the Counter Terrorism Department building, where they were neutralised, while roughly three others headed toward the Special Branch building. An exchange of fire followed the initial blast, and police said one attacker was killed during the encounter. The explosion left a crater outside the mosque, and rescue officials said 14 ambulances and more than 40 personnel took part in the emergency response.

Who Claimed Responsibility

The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen, according to reporting from Dawn. District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Kohat declared an emergency to handle the casualties, and authorities closed the Kohat-Hangu Road to all traffic as additional security personnel were deployed to the area.

Government Response

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the explosion, directing authorities to ensure the injured received immediate medical treatment and seeking a detailed report from concerned officials. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also took notice of the incident, saying such acts of terrorism could not weaken the province’s resolve, and directed officials to deploy all available resources for treating the injured.

Part Of A Broader Pattern

The Kohat attack adds to a rising trend of violence targeting Pakistani law enforcement, particularly across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Just over a week earlier, on September 10, a police constable was killed and another seriously injured after unidentified assailants attacked a checkpost in Balochistan’s Mastung district. A monthly security assessment by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has documented a continued rise in terrorist attacks across the country in recent months.

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