21 killed, 78 injured in Pakistan mosque blast near police compound

At least 15 police officers were among those killed in the attack, which took place near the Old Police Lines in Kohat, a district located around 60 km southwest of the provincial capital Peshawar.

Gunmen storm police compound after blast

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the police compound, triggering a powerful blast.

The explosion badly damaged the mosque and caused the outer wall of the police offices to collapse.

Following the blast, armed attackers attempted to enter the police premises and exchanged fire with security personnel. Police said several attackers were killed during the ensuing gun battle.

The assault was described by officials as a coordinated attack involving the vehicle bomb and armed gunmen.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene as emergency services transported the injured to hospitals.

Most injured were worshippers

A senior rescue official said most of those wounded were worshippers who had gathered at the mosque for Friday prayers.

Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

The blast caused extensive damage to the mosque and nearby structures, with rescue workers searching through debris following the explosion.

Shehbaz Sharif condemns attack

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

The attack came a day after a roadside bomb struck a security forces convoy in the nearby Hangu district, killing six soldiers.

Pakistani security forces also carried out raids in several areas on Thursday and reported killing 10 militants suspected of being members of the Pakistani Taliban.

Kohat attack comes amid rising militancy

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed repeated attacks targeting security personnel and civilians, particularly in districts close to the Afghanistan border.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has intensified attacks in Pakistan in recent years. In January 2023, a suicide bomber killed more than 100 people inside a mosque in Peshawar.

The TTP is separate from Afghanistan's Taliban but is regarded as an allied militant group. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan territory, an allegation Kabul has denied.

The latest Kohat attack comes amid heightened security operations against militant groups and growing tensions along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.