Suicide attack near Kohat mosque kills at least 16

At least 16 people, including five police officers and 11 civilians, were killed and more than 50 others were injured in a suicide attack near a mosque at the Old Police Lines in Kohat, Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, during Friday prayers on Friday.

The attack occurred approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the police compound, triggering a powerful explosion that gouged a crater and severely damaged the mosque and surrounding structures. According to provincial police chief Zulfiqar Hameed, a second suicide bomber detonated explosives near the Special Branch building as armed attackers exchanged fire with security forces.

Read More: Bhutanese PM makes brief transit stop in Dhaka

Rescue teams rushed the injured to Kohat District Headquarters Hospital, where an emergency was declared. Meanwhile, security forces launched an operation inside the compound following the blasts and gunfire. The death toll could rise further, with several injured individuals remaining in critical condition. No group had immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, while authorities continued their investigation and security operation in the area.