KOHAT, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Officials from Pakistani law enforcement confirm that the September 18 assault on the Old Police Lines complex in Kohat, located in northwestern Pakistan, resulted in 23 fatalities, comprising 17 police officers and six civilians. The attack unfolded during Friday prayers when an explosives-laden vehicle was detonated near the mosque within the compound. Following the explosion, armed gunmen stormed into the area and opened fire. Emergency responders from Rescue 1122 transported the injured to hospitals, while security forces cordoned off the site and launched a search and clearance operation.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police reported that eight assailants were killed as security teams conducted a thorough search of the compound throughout the night. The confrontation continued within several buildings until the police secured the facility on Saturday. The Old Police Lines serves as the district police headquarters, also accommodating the Counter Terrorism Department and the Special Branch. Authorities stated that the attackers reached sections of the complex following the initial blast and engaged in gunfire exchanges with security forces during the ongoing operation.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, stated that emergency units transported 23 bodies and 91 injured individuals from the scene. The death toll was updated as search efforts extended into damaged areas and hospitals reported additional victims. Later, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police confirmed that among the fatalities were 17 police officers and six civilians. The authorities also reported damage to both government and private property around the complex caused by the blast, gunfire, and grenade attacks.
Case Filed by Counter Terrorism Department Following Police Complex Assault
In response to the attack, the Counter Terrorism Department initiated a case at its Kohat police station. The initial report listed charges including terrorism, murder, attempted murder, among others. The investigation states that the assailants drove an explosives-filled vehicle toward the mosque area before infiltrating the Police Lines with firearms and hand grenades. The suspects remain unidentified, and authorities have begun collecting evidence from the damaged premises.
Security personnel confronted the assailants as military units and Counter Terrorism Department teams moved through the site. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police later announced that the operation concluded after security forces killed all eight attackers. The security teams also cleared the Special Branch section, where gunmen had entered during the assault. Authorities completed thorough searches of the main buildings and surrounding areas before resuming access for investigators and emergency responders.
Blast and Gunfire Disrupt Friday Prayers at Kohat Police Facility
The attack targeted a key police installation in Kohat while officers and worshippers gathered for Friday prayers. An explosion caused extensive damage to the mosque and created a large crater at the site. Gunfire persisted after the vehicle explosion as the attackers advanced deeper into the compound. Security teams then carried out room-to-room searches across the Police Lines, declaring the area secure on Saturday.
The group Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the incident. However, the police case names unidentified assailants and does not specify individual suspects publicly. The Counter Terrorism Department continues to analyze the bombing, gunfire, and grenade attacks linked to the case. Investigators are also working on identifying the deceased attackers, documenting casualties, and assessing property damage across the Old Police Lines complex.