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 officials and six civilians, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and Rescue 1122. The assault was launched during Friday prayers when an explosives-laden vehicle exploded close to a mosque within the police facility. Following the blast, armed assailants infiltrated the premises and opened fire. Emergency teams transported numerous injured individuals to hospitals while security forces cordoned off the area.
During an overnight clearance operation that extended into Saturday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police reported that security forces eliminated eight attackers. Law enforcement officers successfully cleared major buildings after intense gun battles inside the complex. The Old Police Lines serves as a district police headquarters, hosting units such as the Counter Terrorism Department, the Special Branch, and other police divisions. Officials stated that attackers reached sections of the complex following the initial explosion and continued firing from within the premises.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, confirmed that teams transported 23 bodies and 91 injured individuals to hospitals after the incident and subsequent operation. The death toll was revised multiple times as responders searched the damaged areas of the compound and hospitals provided treatment to victims. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later identified 17 of those killed as police personnel and six as civilians. Property damage to both government and private assets around the site was also reported.
Police file terrorism case following Kohat attack
The Counter Terrorism Department filed an FIR at its Kohat police station in response to the attack. The case encompasses charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and related offenses. The complaint details that assailants used a vehicle filled with explosives to target the mosque area, then proceeded to open fire and throw hand grenades while entering the Police Lines. The department has registered the case against unidentified individuals and has begun examining evidence collected from the scene.
According to the report, police personnel engaged the attackers as army units and CTD teams moved into the complex. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later announced the conclusion of the clearance operation, confirming that eight assailants had been killed. Security forces also evacuated the Section of the Special Branch, which had been breached during the assault. The operation was finalized after securing the main structures and thoroughly searching the compound for any remaining threats.
Friday prayer attack prompts extended security measures at Kohat Police Lines
The assault targeted one of Kohat’s primary police installations amidst Friday prayers, when officers and worshippers were gathered at the mosque. The explosion created a large crater and caused significant damage to the mosque structure. Gunfire persisted following the initial blast as attackers advanced further into the complex. Security personnel then conducted thorough room-to-room searches, concluding the operation on Saturday.
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen. However, the police FIR was registered against unidentified attackers and does not publicly specify individual suspects. The Counter Terrorism Department continues investigating the bombing, gunfire, and grenade attacks. Investigators have also documented damage to government and private property within the Police Lines area. Authorities are still working on identifying the attackers, and the case remains open for charges of terrorism, murder, and attempted murder.