A devastating explosion took place at a mosque close to a police office building in northwest Pakistan on Friday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 15 individuals and injuring 56 others, as reported by police and rescue officials. The incident unfolded in Kohat, a district located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghanistan border, where an assailant seemingly drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the mosque, according to Zulfiqar Hameed, the provincial police chief.
Hospital authorities have confirmed that among the deceased were five police officers and ten civilians, stated Bilal Faizi, a senior rescue officer. The majority of the wounded individuals were worshippers, with some in critical condition. Furthermore, it was reported that at least two armed individuals tried to enter the police compound and engaged in a gunfire exchange with officers.
Visuals from the site displayed the collapsed outer wall of the police offices and severe damage to the mosque. Following the explosion, smoke billowed over the area, with witnesses and residents stating that the blast’s sound reverberated far and wide, followed by gunfire.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the assault and expressed grief over the casualties, instructing authorities to expedite rescue efforts.
The attack occurred amidst escalating violence in the region, with security forces targeting militants. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack immediately, suspicions point towards the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.
This incident follows a roadside bombing targeting a security forces convoy in the Hangu district, claiming the lives of six soldiers. Additionally, government troops conducted operations on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of ten militants believed to be affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, as confirmed by military and police sources.
The Pakistani Taliban has intensified its attacks on law enforcement and civilians in recent years. Notably, in 2023, a suicide bomber orchestrated an attack within a mosque in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, claiming the lives of 101 people.
It is crucial to note that the Pakistani Taliban operates independently but maintains an alliance with Afghanistan’s Taliban, which regained control in 2021. Pakistan has frequently accused Kabul of harboring the TTP and overlooking cross-border militant activities. Conversely, the Afghan government has refuted these allegations.
