Kohat Police Lines blast death toll rises to 22 as clearance operation concludes

The death toll from the blast and subsequent attack at the mosque in Kohat Police Lines rose to 22 on Saturday after the body of another police officer was recovered from the site and shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).

Kohat hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Tahir Shah confirmed the rise in the death toll, saying another police officer’s body had been shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

On Friday, at least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities.

Earlier, a search and clearance operation following the blast at a mosque was completed after around 20 hours, with eight terrorists killed

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed said that Elite Force commandos, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams and security forces cleared key sections of the buildings.

He said a suicide bomber had attempted to target law enforcement personnel but failed.

The IGP remained at the scene and encouraged the personnel involved in the operation, while Additional IGP CTD, the Kohat regional police officer and the Kohat district police officer led the operation. The Kohat GOC was also present, he added.

He further added that "the law enforcement agencies completed the operation after working through the night."

Hameed praised the officers who took part in the operation and announced rewards for them. “The police, CTD and security forces fought bravely. The brave personnel are the pride of the nation,” he said.

“The terrorists’ nefarious designs have been foiled, and we will ensure their complete elimination,” the IGP said.

According to the report, the blast occurred at approximately 1:20pm during Friday prayers at a mosque located at Police Lines on Hangu Road in Kohat, followed by a terrorist attack involving around five to seven terrorists.

Of the 22 people killed, 16 were police personnel and six were civilians. The report identified one of the deceased civilians as Dr Israel Khan Aurakzai, Chief District Specialist (Paediatrics) at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat.

It further said 103 injured people had been received at the two hospitals, including 13 at Liaqat Memorial Hospital and 90 at DHQ Hospital Kohat. The injured comprised 73 police personnel and 30 civilians.

Of the total injured, 34 were admitted for treatment, while five patients underwent laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision into the abdomen.

The report said four of the patients who underwent laparotomy had been referred to tertiary care facilities in Peshawar for further treatment.

Read: President Zardari, PM Shehbaz strongly condemn Kohat Police Lines blast

It added that the situation was being closely monitored and all possible medical assistance was being provided to the injured at the relevant health facilities.

According to the police, seven armed terrorists infiltrated the police lines following a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated at the boundary wall near the mosque.

Read more: Kohat Police Lines blast kills 21, including 15 police personnel

Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers. Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to deny the use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. However, the de facto rulers in Kabul have been reluctant to take action against terrorist groups operating from their territory.