KOHAT, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – The death toll from the September 18 assault on Kohat’s Old Police Lines has increased to 23, comprising 17 police officers and six civilians, as confirmed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and Rescue 1122. The assault was launched during Friday prayers when an explosives-packed vehicle detonated near a mosque located within the police complex. Following the blast, armed assailants entered the premises and opened fire, prompting rescue teams to evacuate numerous wounded individuals to hospitals while security forces cordoned off the area.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, security forces managed to kill eight of the attackers during the operation that extended into the early hours of Saturday. After intense gun battles inside the compound, officers secured vital structures. The Old Police Lines complex functions as the district police headquarters and accommodates the Counter Terrorism Department, the Special Branch, and other police units. Officials stated that the attackers reached sections of the complex after the initial explosion and continued firing from within the premises.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, reported that teams transported 23 bodies and 91 injured individuals to hospitals following the attack and ongoing operation. The casualty figures were revised multiple times as responders examined the damaged sections of the compound and hospitals treated the victims. Later, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police identified 17 of the deceased as police personnel and six as civilians. Additionally, authorities reported damage to both government and private properties in the vicinity of the site.
Police initiate terrorism charges after Kohat assault
Counter Terrorism Department filed a First Information Report (FIR) at its Kohat police station following the attack. The case includes charges related to terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and other offences. The complaint states that attackers used a vehicle loaded with explosives to target the mosque area, then proceeded to fire weapons and throw hand grenades as they entered the Police Lines. The department registered the case against unidentified assailants and began an investigation based on evidence collected from the site.
The report further notes that police personnel engaged the attackers during their incursion as army units and Counter Terrorism Department teams moved into the complex. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later announced the completion of the clearance operation, confirming that eight terrorists had been killed. Security forces also cleared the Special Branch section, where gunmen had entered during the assault. The operation concluded once all key buildings were secured and searches for any remaining threats were conducted within the compound.
Extended security operations follow mosque bombing
The assault targeted one of Kohat’s principal police facilities during Friday prayers, when officers and worshippers were gathered at the mosque. The explosion caused extensive damage to the mosque area and created a large crater at the impact site. Gunfire persisted after the blast as assailants advanced further into the complex. Security teams then undertook detailed room-to-room searches before declaring the operation finished on Saturday.
The militant group Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the police FIR was filed against unidentified suspects, with no individual suspects publicly named. The Counter Terrorism Department continues to investigate the bombing, gunfire, and grenade attacks. Authorities also documented property damage to government and private assets within the Police Lines premises following the incident. While identification efforts of the attackers are ongoing, the registered case encompasses charges of terrorism, murder, and attempted murder.
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