The Kabul Tribune (KT) — A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the old Police Lines in Kohat during Friday prayers, killing 16 people, including five police officers, Pakistani officials said, Geo News reported.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar
Hamid said the vehicle rammed into the gate of the old Police Lines before
exploding. He said gunfire also broke out during the incident.
A second suicide blast occurred at the Special Branch
building during an exchange of fire between police and the attackers, Hamid
said.
Three militants were killed in the exchange of fire,
according to the police chief.
Hamid said police would continue to confront militant
attacks and that the incident would not weaken the morale of police personnel.
He also said those responsible and their facilitators would face consequences.
Tahir Ali Shah, medical superintendent of Kohat's District
Headquarters Hospital, initially told Geo News that 15 bodies and more than 50
injured people had been brought to the hospital following the blast. The
hospital administration later said at least 25 injured people had been brought
in for treatment.
Rescue officials said the explosion severely damaged the
outer section of a mosque and caused a wall to collapse. Rescue operations were
underway at the site.
Authorities closed the Kohat-Hangu Road to traffic following
the attack, while the district administration declared an emergency at the
hospital to deal with the casualties.
Pakistan's Central Police Office said Hamid had sought a
report from the Regional Police Officer in Kohat.
Authorities were still assessing the nature of the attack,
while an exchange of fire with the attackers continued after the explosions,
according to the Central Police Office.
