Atleast seven killed in explosion near Old Police Lines in K-P's Kohat

IG Hameed says an exchange of fire is continuing between armed terrorists and police following the explosion

PESHAWAR:

At least seven people were killed and more than 30 injured in an explosion near the Old Police Lines in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Kohat on Friday, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said.

Faizi said the injured and those killed had been shifted to hospitals in Rescue 1122 ambulances as the search and rescue operation continued at the site.

K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told The Express Tribune that an exchange of fire between police and armed terrorists was continuing after the blast.

IG Hameed added that police were present at the scene and the area had been placed on alert. The K-P police chief said initial information suggested that a vehicle loaded with explosives had been rammed near the Old Police Lines, although authorities were still determining the exact nature of the blast.

He took notice of the explosion at a mosque in Kohat Police Lines and sought a report from the Regional Police Officer Kohat. Hameed also directed officials to ensure that those injured in the explosion received timely and appropriate medical treatment.

“Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police is standing as an iron wall against terrorism. Cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve,” he said. “The blood of the martyrs will not go to waste. The terrorists and their facilitators will meet an exemplary fate,” Hameed added.

Separately, spokesperson Faizi said several of the injured are in critical condition. The spokesperson said the rescue and relief operation was still underway, with the injured being provided immediate medical assistance and shifted to nearby hospitals in Rescue 1122 ambulances.

He said 14 ambulances, rescue and recovery vehicles and more than 40 personnel were currently taking part in the operation at the site.

District Emergency Officer Noor-ul-Amin was personally supervising the rescue operation, Faizi said, adding that relief activities would continue until the operation was completed.

“Rescue 1122 teams are engaged in relief operations at the scene,” Faizi said, adding that further details would be issued as more information was received.

Political leadership condemns attack

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the attack and ordered authorities to ensure immediate medical treatment for those injured in the blast. The chief minister sought a report on the incident from police authorities and described the attack as a “cowardly act of terrorism” that was “extremely regrettable and unacceptable”.

He directed officials to use all available resources to provide medical assistance to the injured and ensure hospitals had the necessary facilities for their treatment.

Afridi also ordered arrangements to transfer critically injured people to other hospitals if required and called for all aspects of the incident to be examined before a detailed report was submitted.

“Targeting innocent citizens is extremely regrettable and condemnable,” he said. “The cowardly acts of terrorism cannot break the nation’s resolve,” the chief minister added.

K-P's Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the explosion, calling for the injured to be provided with immediate and appropriate medical treatment.

“The explosion at Kohat’s old Police Lines was extremely regrettable and condemnable,” Kundi said. He said cowardly acts of terrorism could not shake the nation’s resolve and determination.

Kundi added that the entire nation stood with the security forces in the fight against terrorism. “The sacrifices of the security forces and people in the war against terrorism will not go in vain,” he said.

This is a developing story