A powerful car bomb blast near the Old Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat killed at least 16 people, including five police personnel and 11 civilians, during Friday prayers, officials said.
Police reported that a vehicle loaded with explosives rammed into the gate of the police facility, triggering a massive explosion followed by gunfire. The blast created a crater outside a mosque, damaged its exterior, and caused a wall to collapse.
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and evacuated the injured to Kohat District Headquarters Hospital, which received 25 casualties. Authorities declared an emergency at the hospital as security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search and clearance operation.
Pakistan’s Interior Ministry expressed grief over the loss of life on X, while investigators are probing the identity of the attackers and the nature of the explosion. The Kohat‑Hangu Road was closed to traffic, and additional forces were deployed around the blast site.
The attack underscores the persistent threat of militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police and civilians have repeatedly been targeted in recent months.
