Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police concluded an overnight clearance operation following a deadly attack near a mosque in Kohat district’s old Police Lines, killing eight terrorists. The operation lasted about 21 hours and involved Elite Force commandos, Counter Terrorism Department teams, and security forces under the supervision of KP Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed. At least 21 people were killed and over 100 wounded in the initial attack on Friday, with 15 police officials among those who died.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Friday, a powerful blast occurred near Old Police Lines in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, northwest Pakistan. The explosion killed at least 16 people, including five police officers and 11 civilians, and wounded over 50 others. Initial reports suggested that an explosive-laden vehicle was rammed into a mosque near the police headquarters during Friday prayers. Rescue teams immediately responded to the scene, transporting injured individuals to nearby hospitals. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG), Zulfiqar Hameed, confirmed the death toll and stated that security forces were engaged in an exchange of fire with terrorists from Fitna al Khawarij, a banned Taliban group operating in the region.
Written for “Bombing At Mosque Near Police Offices…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 23 other(s) covering the same event.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police said on Saturday that an overnight clearance operation following the deadly two-pronged assault near a mosque in Kohat district’s old Police Lines had been completed, saying that a total of eight terrorists were killed.
asserted
terrorists → say → Lines
According to officials, the operation lasted approximately 21 hours.
uncertain
operation → accord → hours
In an official handout, KP police said that eight terrorists were killed in retaliatory action by police and security forces.
asserted
terrorists → say → police
It said that the operation had concluded, adding that Elite Force commandos, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams, and security forces had cleared key areas of the buildings.
asserted
operation → say → buildings
According to the statement, KP Inspector General (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed was present at the scene.
uncertain
Hameed → accord → scene
It added that the operation was led by the CTD additional IG, the Kohat regional police officer and the Kohat district police officer.
asserted
operation → add → IG
It said that the Kohat general officer commanding was also present.
asserted
officer → say → ?
“Law enforcement agencies achieved success following an overnight operation,” it said.
asserted
it → achieve → operation
The statement said IG Hameed commended the officers who participated in the operation and announced rewards for them.
asserted
who → say → them
“Police, CTD, and security forces fought valiantly; these brave personnel are the pride of the nation,” he said.
asserted
he → fight → nation
“The terrorists’ nefarious designs have been thwarted, and we will ensure their complete elimination,” he said.
asserted
he → thwart → elimination
Earlier, a CTD statement said that the additional IG was injured in a grenade attack by terrorists during the operation.
asserted
IG → say → operation
According to the statement, the terrorists had entered the Special Branch building after the suicide attack on the mosque.
uncertain
terrorists → accord → mosque
The statement said the CTD additional IG had been on the frontline since Friday afternoon, supervising the ongoing operation against Fitna al-Khawarij along with police personnel.
asserted
IG → say → personnel
The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
asserted
state → use → Pakistan
It said the additional IG sustained a hand injury in a grenade attack carried out by the terrorists during the operation.
asserted
IG → say → operation
After receiving first aid, he returned to the frontline to supervise the operation and boost the morale of the personnel, the statement added.
asserted
statement → receive → personnel
At least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred on Friday and over 100 were wounded when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat’s old Police Lines, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities.
asserted
terrorists → include → facilities
Among the slain were SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari, head of the paediatric department at DHQ Hospital Dr Israel Orakzai, and Special Branch and CTD officials.
asserted
Shinwari → slay → Hospital
The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
asserted
attack → claim → Mujahideen
The funeral prayers for the 15 martyred police personnel were offered in Kohat on Friday evening, after which their bodies were transported to their native districts of Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mardan in Rescue 1122 ambulances.
asserted
bodies → martyr → ambulances
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sought a detailed report on the incident, saying the targeting of innocent citizens was “deeply regrettable and unacceptable”, according to a statement issued by his office.
uncertain
targeting → seek → office
He directed authorities to ensure immediate treatment for the injured.
asserted
He → direct → injured
“The nation’s morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism,” he said.
asserted
he → dampen → terrorism
It may be recalled that in 2010, 20 people, mostly relatives of policemen, were killed and more than 90 injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast inside a police colony located just behind the Kohat Police Lines.
uncertain
90 → recall → Lines
The explosion had taken place in Ramazan during Iftar.
asserted
explosion → take → Iftar