KOHAT: At least 15 police personnel, including SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari, were martyred and 54 others injured in a suicide blast at the main entrance of Police Lines Mosque in Kohat on Friday afternoon, police and Rescue 1122 confirmed.
Local rescue sources said that the blast occurred around 1:30 PM, when police personnel were present inside the mosque located within the highly secured Police Lines compound. According to initial reports from District Police, the explosion was of high intensity, and its sound was heard several kilometers away. Local police said that a suspected suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden jacket at the main entrance of the mosque.
Rescue 1122 teams immediately reached the site and started rescue operations. All injured have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Kohat, where an emergency has been declared. Hospital sources 15 police personnel were martyred, and 54 persons have been admitted to the hospital.
Following the blast, sounds of gunfire were also reported in the area, causing panic. A heavy contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the entire Police Lines area and blocked the Kohat-Hangu Road for all kinds of traffic.
District Police Officer Kohat said the nature of the blast is being determined and the Bomb Disposal Squad has been called to the site to collect evidence. Police are investigating whether it was an improvised explosive device planted inside the mosque or a suicide attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Inspector General of Police KP have taken notice of the incident and sought a report. This is the third major incident in the Kohat region in the last week, where security forces have been on high alert following intelligence reports of possible attacks ahead of Friday prayers.
Intelligence sources said that an Afghan National named Tashkeel is allegedly involved in carrying out the attack, the investigation is still underway to reach out the final conclusion.
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed has taken notice of the blast at Kohat Police Lines Mosque and has sought a detailed report from Regional Police Officer Kohat.According to initial information, a vehicle loaded with explosives was rammed into the old Police Lines. However, police said the exact nature of the blast is still being determined.
Exchange of fire with armed terrorists is also ongoing after the blast, sources said.The IGP has directed that timely and best medical aid be provided to the injured in the blast.”Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police stands like an iron wall against terrorism, cowardly attacks cannot lower our morale,” the IGP said.”The blood of martyrs will not go in vain, terrorists and their facilitators will meet an exemplary end,” IGP Zulfiqar Hameed added.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Kareem Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condenmed the blast and termed it a henous act of terrorism. The Governor offered Fatiha for the martyred soul and speedy recovery of the injured persons.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condenmed the attack and expressed deep sorrow over the brutal incident. He also directed best possible facilities for the injured persons and prayed for their early recovery.
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