At Least 16 Killed, More Than 50 Injured in Pakistan Mosque Blast

At least 16 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a powerful explosion near a mosque in Kohat in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, according to local media reports citing officials.

The blast occurred near a mosque close to the old Police Lines area in Kohat, around 60 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, the provincial capital.

Provincial police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the attacker appeared to have driven a vehicle loaded with explosives toward the mosque and detonated it. However, authorities were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Local police said at least two armed gunmen also attempted to enter the nearby police compound, triggering an exchange of fire with officers.

The explosion took place during Friday prayers, according to reports citing authorities. The blast created a large crater outside the mosque and caused extensive damage to nearby shops and houses. Several police personnel were also among those injured.

Videos circulated on social media showed the mosque’s roof collapsing following the explosion. Rescue workers and local residents were seen removing injured people from the rubble and taking them to ambulances. The dead and injured were transported to nearby hospitals.

Pakistani leadership condemns attack

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and expressed condolences to the families of those killed and injured. According to a statement from his office, he ordered authorities to accelerate rescue operations, ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and provide assistance to those affected by the attack.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry also expressed grief over the loss of life but did not immediately provide a death toll.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and said that the complete elimination of what he described as “foreign-sponsored terrorists” was essential for national security.

No group claims responsibility

No militant organisation had claimed responsibility for the bombing at the time of the reports. However, Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), could come under suspicion, according to reports.

The TTP has intensified attacks against security forces and civilians in Pakistan in recent years. In 2023, a suicide bombing inside a mosque in Peshawar killed 101 people.

The TTP operates independently of Afghanistan’s Taliban government but maintains an alliance with the group. The Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan territory and of failing to prevent cross-border attacks. The Afghan government has rejected those allegations.

Source: Hindustan Times & Pakistani Local Media.