21 killed, 78 injured as suicide bombers, gunmen storm Pakistan police complex during Friday prayers

At least 21 people, including 15 police personnel, were killed and 78 others injured on Friday after suicide bombers and armed militants launched a coordinated attack on a police complex during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, triggering explosions and a prolonged gun battle with security forces.

The assault began when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the Old Police Lines in Kohat, around 60 km southwest of provincial capital Peshawar. The powerful explosion struck near a mosque where worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers, leaving a crater outside the building, severely damaging its exterior and bringing down a wall. Armed militants then attempted to storm the complex, leading to an exchange of fire with police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel.

District health authorities said 21 people had been killed and at least 78 wounded. Later local reports said the dead included 15 police personnel and six civilians. Many of the injured were worshippers, and the toll could change further as several victims remained under treatment.

Car bomb starts assault

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid said an explosives-laden vehicle was driven into the gate of the Old Police Lines, where it detonated before militants opened fire.

Police said seven armed attackers entered or attempted to enter the Police Lines complex following the initial explosion. Security personnel and CTD teams engaged them in a gun battle as an operation was launched to prevent the militants from advancing further into the compound.

The attack then escalated when another suicide bomber detonated explosives near the Special Branch building during the firefight, according to police. The complex also houses important police and counter-terrorism facilities, making it a heavily guarded security installation.

Six attackers, including suicide bombers and a sniper, had been killed during the security operation, police said as clearance operations continued.

A little-known militant alliance, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. The alliance, formed in April 2025, includes the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Harakat Inqilab-e-Islami Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam.

Mosque badly damaged

The timing of the assault during Friday prayers contributed to the heavy casualties. The explosion caused extensive damage around the mosque, with video footage from the area showing debris scattered across the compound and victims lying inside the building.

Rescue workers and local residents rushed to pull the wounded from the damaged structure as security forces simultaneously battled the attackers.

Most of those injured were worshippers, while several police personnel were also among the casualties. Nearby buildings were damaged by the force of the explosion.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said emergency teams were dispatched immediately after authorities received information about the explosion and began rescue operations at the site.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Kohat, where emergency measures were activated to deal with the large number of casualties.

Area sealed off

Security forces and police cordoned off the Police Lines and surrounding areas as the operation unfolded. The Kohat-Hangu Road was closed to traffic and additional police contingents were deployed around the complex.

The provincial police chief sought a detailed report from the regional police officer and directed authorities to ensure immediate medical treatment for those injured.

Hamid said attacks of this nature would not weaken the force’s resolve to combat terrorism, describing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police as an “iron wall” against militants.

The assault was among the deadliest attacks on a police installation in Pakistan in recent months and once again highlighted the security challenge confronting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police, military personnel and government facilities have repeatedly been targeted.

Leaders condemn attack

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, with Sharif seeking a report from the authorities and directing officials to accelerate relief and rescue operations.

The Pakistani leadership vowed to continue operations against militant groups, with the Prime Minister saying the elimination of what Islamabad describes as foreign-sponsored terrorism was essential for national security.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the attack and said the country stood with its security forces in the fight against terrorism. Provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sought a report from the police chief and directed authorities to ensure treatment for the wounded.

Pakistan has faced a sustained rise in militant violence in recent years, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Security forces, police installations and checkpoints have frequently been targeted as authorities struggle to contain an increasingly persistent insurgent threat.

Friday’s assault stood out for its coordinated nature — beginning with a vehicle-borne suicide explosion during prayers, followed by an attempted armed infiltration and another suicide blast as security personnel fought the attackers inside the police complex.