KOHAT, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – The death toll from the September 18 assault on Kohat’s Old Police Lines has increased to 23, with 17 police officers and six civilians among the victims, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and Rescue 1122. The assault was initiated during Friday prayers, when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque located within the police complex. Following the explosion, armed assailants entered the premises and commenced gunfire. Emergency teams transported numerous injured individuals to hospitals as security personnel sealed off the area.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, security forces managed to eliminate eight attackers in an overnight clearance operation that extended into Saturday. Authorities secured crucial buildings following fierce gun battles within the compound. The Old Police Lines complex functions as the district police headquarters and houses units such as the Counter Terrorism Department, Special Branch, and others. The police stated that after the initial blast, attackers reached certain parts of the complex and continued firing from inside the premises.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, explained that teams transported 23 bodies and 91 injured persons to hospitals in the wake of the attack and subsequent operation. The casualty figures fluctuated as rescuers searched damaged sections of the complex and hospitals provided treatment to victims. Later, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police identified 17 of the deceased as police personnel and six as civilians. Additionally, police reported damage to both government and private property in the vicinity of the site.
Police file terrorism charges following Kohat assault
The Counter Terrorism Department filed an FIR at its Kohat police station after the attack. The case encompasses charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and other offenses. The complaint states that assailants used a vehicle packed with explosives to target the mosque area, then opened fire and threw hand grenades while entering the Police Lines. The department has registered the case against unidentified attackers and is now investigating evidence collected from the site.
The report indicates that police personnel engaged the attackers as army units and Counter Terrorism Department teams moved into the complex. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later announced the conclusion of the clearance operation, confirming that eight attackers had been killed. Security teams also cleared the Special Branch section, where gunmen had entered during the attack. The operation concluded once main structures were secured and the site was thoroughly searched for any remaining threats.
Extended security operations follow mosque attack
The assault targeted one of Kohat’s primary police facilities during Friday prayers, with officers and worshippers gathered at the mosque. The explosion created a large crater near the impact point and caused damage to the mosque area. Gunfire persisted after the blast as the attackers moved further into the complex. Security personnel then undertook room-to-room searches, concluding the operation on Saturday.
The Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the police FIR was filed against unidentified individuals and does not publicly disclose the suspects’ identities. The Counter Terrorism Department continues its investigation into the bombing, gunfire, and grenade attacks. Investigators also documented property damage to both government and private assets within the Police Lines area following the assault. Police confirmed that identification efforts of the attackers are ongoing post-clearance, with the case covering terrorism, murder, and attempted murder.