Kohat Police Compound Attack Death Toll Rises to 31 as Clearance Operation Ends

KOHAT, — September 19, 2026 — The death toll from Friday’s attack on the Old Police Lines in Kohat has risen to 31, including 16 police personnel, while more than 100 people were injured. Police said the clearance operation at the compound was completed after roughly 20 hours, with eight attackers killed. (Reuters)

The attack began on Friday when an explosives-laden vehicle struck the police facility near a mosque where officers and their families had gathered for prayers. Armed attackers then entered the compound, leading to a prolonged exchange of fire with security personnel. (Reuters)

Photographs taken at the scene on September 18 show residents and security personnel gathered around the damaged police facility, while ambulances remained positioned on nearby streets as rescue and relief efforts continued. (Reuters)

The explosion caused extensive damage to the mosque and surrounding sections of the Police Lines compound. Rescue workers and residents were seen moving through areas covered with rubble and collapsed building material after the blast. (Dawn)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police said the attackers breached the compound and moved toward the Counter Terrorism Department and Special Branch buildings. Six attackers, including the suicide bomber, were initially reported killed, while the remaining attackers were later eliminated during the clearance operation. (Dawn)

The latest casualty figure reported on Saturday is higher than the initial toll of 21 announced after the attack. AFP, citing a senior police official, reported that 31 people had been killed and more than 100 wounded, with 16 police personnel among the dead. (Reuters)

The Old Police Lines complex houses the district police headquarters along with offices of the Counter Terrorism Department, Special Branch and other police units. The attack therefore damaged a major law-enforcement complex in Kohat, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (Dawn)

The Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Pakistani media reports. The broader responsibility and circumstances surrounding the assault remain under investigation. (Dawn)

The Kohat attack comes amid continued militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police and security forces have faced repeated attacks in recent months. Authorities are continuing casualty assessments, investigations and security operations following the assault. (Reuters)