PESHAWAR: At least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred on Friday after an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines, followed by an attack by terrorists who stormed the compound and targeted police facilities, according to senior police and district health officials.
District Health Officer Dr Nasir Hassan Afridi confirmed the toll, saying more than 100 people were injured, three of them critically. The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hamid told media that an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the old police lines. He also confirmed the death toll and said more than 50 people have injured.
“some headed towards the Counter Terrorism Department building, where they were neutralised, while around three went to the Special Branch building,” he said, adding that six terrorists, including the suicide bomber, had been killed so far.
“The operation will continue until the complete elimination of Fitna-ul-Khawarij,” the IG was quoted as saying, adding that the police’s morale remained high.
Police blamed the bombing on Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used by Pakistani officials for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Rescue teams continued operations at the scene, while security personnel cordoned off the area and began investigating the attack.
The bombing incident occurs as security forces continue counter-terrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officails earlier said that security forces had killed 10 terrorists in separate operations in the province during the last two days.
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