An armed group attacked the Pakistan police headquarters in a northern city, killing 31 people and injuring hundreds, with the situation still unresolved.
AFP news agency reported on Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 GMT+7, that the death toll from the bombing and armed attack at the police headquarters in Kohat, northern Pakistan, on Friday has risen to at least 31, including 16 police officers.
"At present, there are at least 31 fatalities, including 16 police officers, and over 100 injured from the armed assault and suicide bombing," an official stated, adding that the fighting continues.
An armed group stormed the police office complex in Kohat, a city of about 220,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on the afternoon of 18 Sep.
This police building serves as the district police headquarters, housing key units such as the counter-terrorism department, special intelligence agency, and several other police units.
"Several armed militants remain holed up inside the special intelligence agency area within the Kohat police office complex," a police official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Gunfire exchanges with the attackers have continued since last night, and the exact number of assailants is unknown."
Pakistani authorities accused militants from Afghanistan of increasing attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces along the southern border, while Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied any involvement.
These accusations have sparked severe tensions between the two countries, leading to multiple cross-border clashes, the latest in June when Pakistan launched attacks targeting militants in Afghan territory.
Source:cna