At least 16 people, including 11 civilians and five police officers, were killed and more than 50 others wounded in a suspected suicide bombing targeting a police compound in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, officials said.
The attack occurred when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the Old Police Lines in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Friday congregational prayers, according to police officials cited by local media.
Kohat District Hospital official Tahir Ali Shah said 15 bodies had been brought to the facility along with dozens of wounded people. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police later put the death toll at 16, including five police officers and 11 civilians.
Police said a suspected attacker was also killed after the explosion.
Blast damages mosque, triggers security operation
The explosion created a crater outside a mosque inside the police compound and caused significant damage to the surrounding area.
According to police, the bombing was followed by an armed attack inside the compound, prompting an exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists. Authorities said the security operation was continuing.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
The bombing comes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to face terrorist violence, particularly attacks targeting police and other security installations.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately praised security forces for counterterrorism operations in the province and paid tribute to personnel killed in the fighting.
Seven terrorists killed in Balochistan
Separately, Pakistani security forces killed seven terrorists in two operations in southwestern Balochistan province, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
The latest operations and the Kohat bombing come amid continuing Pakistani security efforts against terrorist groups operating in the country’s western provinces.
Authorities have not yet released a full account of the circumstances surrounding the Kohat attack or identified those responsible.
