KOHAT, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – According to death toll, the September 18 assault on Kohat’s Old Police Lines resulted in 23 fatalities, comprising 17 police officers and six civilians, as confirmed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and Rescue 1122. The assault was initiated during Friday prayers when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated close to a mosque within the police complex. Following the explosion, armed assailants entered the premises and opened fire, prompting rescue teams to evacuate numerous injured individuals to hospitals while security forces cordoned off the area.
During a clearance operation that extended into Saturday night, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police reported that security personnel killed eight attackers. Officers engaged in gunfights inside the complex and secured key buildings. The Old Police Lines facility functions as the district police headquarters and accommodates units such as the Counter Terrorism Department, Special Branch, among others. Officials stated that after the initial blast, the assailants advanced into parts of the complex and continued firing from within the premises.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122, indicated that teams transported 23 bodies and 91 injured individuals to hospitals following the attack and subsequent operation. The casualty figures fluctuated as responders searched the damaged sections of the compound and hospitals treated victims. Later, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police identified 17 of the deceased as police personnel and six as civilians. Reports also confirmed damage to both government and private property in the vicinity of the site.
Police file terrorism charges following Kohat attack
A Counter Terrorism Department lodged a first information report at its Kohat police station after the assault. The case involves multiple charges including terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and others. The complaint detailed that attackers employed a vehicle filled with explosives to target the mosque area, then fired weapons and hurled hand grenades while entering the Police Lines. The department has registered the case against unknown assailants and begun examining evidence collected from the site.
The report states that police personnel confronted the attackers as army units and Counter Terrorism Department teams moved into the complex. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later announced that the clearance operation had concluded and that eight attackers had been killed. Authorities also cleared the section housing the Special Branch, where gunmen had entered during the assault. The operation ended with security forces securing the main buildings and continuing their search for any remaining threats within the compound.
Attack on Mosque Triggers Extensive Security Efforts
The assault targeted one of Kohat’s primary police facilities during Friday prayers when officers and worshippers were gathered at the mosque. The explosion caused significant damage to the mosque and created a large crater at the point of impact. Gunfire persisted after the blast as the attackers moved further into the complex, prompting security personnel to conduct room-to-room searches before declaring the operation complete on Saturday.
The Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. However, police FIRs were registered against unidentified individuals and do not publicly identify specific suspects. The Counter Terrorism Department continues its investigation into the bombing, gunfire, and grenade attacks. Authorities also documented damage to government and private property within the Police Lines area after the incident. Police mentioned that identification of the attackers is ongoing following the clearance operation, with the case registered covering terrorism, murder, and attempted murder.