KOHAT, — September 18, 2026 — At least 16 people have been killed and 57 wounded after a suicide car bomb struck a mosque inside a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during Friday prayers, triggering a gun battle between attackers and security forces. (Reuters)
The explosion occurred as police officers, their families and other worshippers gathered at the mosque. Provincial police chief Zulfikar Hameed said the attacker rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall of the police facility. (Reuters)
Five police officers were among those killed, while most of the wounded were worshippers. Rescue teams rushed victims to hospitals as parts of the mosque and the surrounding police complex were damaged by the explosion. Some of those injured were reported to be in critical condition. (Associated Press)
The bombing was followed by an exchange of fire after armed attackers attempted to enter the police compound. Police said all seven attackers were eventually killed in the explosion and ensuing gun battle. (Reuters)
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, later denied involvement, while authorities have not publicly identified a perpetrator responsible for the bombing. (Reuters)
The attack comes a day after a roadside bomb struck a security forces convoy in nearby Hangu district, killing six soldiers. Pakistani security forces also reported killing 10 militants in separate operations in Hangu and North Waziristan. (Associated Press)
The latest violence has intensified concerns over militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province bordering Afghanistan that has experienced repeated attacks against security forces. Pakistani authorities have blamed militants operating from Afghan territory, while Afghanistan's Taliban government has rejected accusations that it provides safe havens for attacks against Pakistan. (Associated Press)
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