A perpetrator drove a truck loaded with explosives into the entrance of a mosque at the Pakistan Police Headquarters before engaging in a shootout with officers, resulting in at least 27 deaths and over 50 injuries.
On 18 September 2026, a suicide bombing and intense gunfight occurred at a mosque inside the police headquarters in Kohat city, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border. The attack left at least 27 people dead, including 6 civilians and 15 police officers, with dozens more wounded.
The incident happened as people gathered to perform Friday prayers. The attacker drove a bomb-laden vehicle into the mosque entrance, causing a powerful explosion. Following this, a group of gunmen attempted to storm the police headquarters, leading to a firefight with security forces.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief confirmed the incident was a suicide bombing. Reports indicate that at least six gunmen were killed by officers during the clashes. Senior rescue officials stated most of the injured were worshippers, reporting at least 15 bodies and over 50 wounded sent to hospitals, with some sources suggesting injuries could be as high as 75.
After the attack, the Ittehadul Mujahideen group, meaning 'Mujahideen Alliance' and linked to Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility, describing it as a suicide bombing attack.
This attack occurred amid rising unrest in northwest Pakistan. The Pakistani government accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and other militant groups to use Afghan territory as a base for planning and executing attacks. However, officials in Kabul deny these allegations.
Source: Aljazeera