Kohat police lines attack leaves 21 martyred, 57 injured

At least 21 people, including 15 police personnel, were martyred and 57 others injured on Friday when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque inside Kohat Police Lines, followed by an attempted attack on police facilities, according to police officials. The attack took place during Friday prayers at the mosque near the Old Police Lines. Security forces and police personnel immediately launched a search and clearance operation after the blast, while the injured were shifted to CMH Kohat for treatment. According to police sources, seven terrorists attempted to enter the police lines following the explosion. Six of them, including the suicide bomber and a sniper, were killed during an exchange of fire with police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Police had earlier claimed that one terrorist had been arrested alive. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said initial information indicated that a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the gate of the police lines, triggering the blast. Other terrorists then attempted to enter the compound. He said some of the attackers tried to move towards the CTD building, but police responded promptly and killed them. Others moved towards the Special Branch building, he added. The KP Central Police Office had earlier said that a suicide bomber blew himself up near the Special Branch building inside the police lines. The Central Police Office said 15 police personnel and six civilians were among the 21 people martyred. The number of injured reached 57. The area surrounding the police lines remained tense, while eyewitnesses reported hearing at least 10 explosions following the initial blast. Police sources said the clearance operation was in its final stages and security forces had cordoned off the area. Authorities were also collecting information to determine the exact nature of the explosion. The injured police personnel and civilians were being treated at CMH Kohat, according to security sources. IG Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the attack and sought a report from the Kohat regional police officer. He said the KP police would continue to stand against terrorism and that the sacrifices of those killed would not go in vain. He added that terrorists and their facilitators would face legal consequences. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and sought a report from the police. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Kohat blast and directed the relevant authorities to provide the injured with immediate and the best possible medical treatment. He also prayed for their speedy recovery and sought a report on the nature and causes of the explosion. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the attack and said eliminating terrorism was essential for national security. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed that they be provided with the best possible medical care. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences to the families of those killed, saying the entire nation stood with them. He said the actions of the militants would not weaken the nation’s resolve. Kohat Police Lines was also targeted in a major terrorist attack in September 2010, when 20 people were killed and more than 90 injured. Most of those killed were family members of police personnel.

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