Widespread Condemnation and Grief in Kohat After Deadly Terrorist Attack on Police Line's Mosque
PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - September 19, 2026) Grief and mourning, along with widespread condemnation, prevailed across Kohat following a devastating suicide attack on a mosque in the old police lines during Friday prayers that left 22 people dead, including 15 policemen, and more than 103 others injured.
The powerful suicide blast, which occurred at around 1:20 pm on the Hangu-Kohat Road, followed by a gun assault by a group of about seven terrorists, sent shockwaves through the city as worshippers and security personnel rushed to rescue the injured from the collapsed mosque.
According to a Kohat police spokesman, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall of the mosque while worshippers were offering Friday prayers. The attack was followed by an attempted infiltration of the police lines by armed militants that was foiled.
A police spokesman stated: about seven terrorists attempted to enter the police lines following the powerful explosion that razed the mosque structure. He said six, including the suicide bomber, were killed during an ensuing encounter, while security personnel continued efforts to secure the area.
The attack primarily targeted police personnel and officials of the Counter Terrorism Department stationed in the police lines. Of the 22 people martyred, 15 were police personnel and seven were civilians. A total of 103 injured people were shifted to Liaqat Memorial Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Kohat. The injured included 73 police personnel and 30 civilians.
At least 34 injured people were admitted for treatment, while five underwent laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision into the abdomen. Four of those patients were subsequently referred to tertiary-care hospitals in Peshawar for further treatment.
Khaliqur Rehman, KP health minister, assured that all possible medical assistance was being provided to the injured.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Director Public Relations, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, monitored the security situation along with other senior officials and personnel after the blast and gun attacks. The IGP stated that authorities were working to identify and trace the facilitators of the attack, adding that police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had fought militants during the operation inside the police lines compound with bravery.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is standing as an iron wall against terrorism. Cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve,” he said. “The blood of the martyrs will not go to waste. The terrorists and their facilitators will meet an exemplary fate.”
The IGP confirmed that the clearance operation has been completed and the attackers were killed.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi reported that 14 ambulances and rescue vehicles responded to the incident.