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At least 16 people, including five police officers, have been killed after a vehicle carrying explosives rammed into a mosque in northwestern Pakistan, according to a senior police official in Peshawar.
The attack occurred near police headquarters in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a gun battle continued between security forces and the attackers. Authorities said one of the assailants had been killed, while a rescue operation was ongoing.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Inspector General Zulfikar Hameed described the incident as a “suicide attack”, according to Reuters.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the bombing and expressed his “best wishes for the swift recovery of those injured in the explosion.” Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the attack and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
The bombing comes as security forces in Pakistan’s border regions continue to face increased militant activity, with attacks targeting police and military personnel.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused armed groups operating from Afghanistan of using safe havens there to organise and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban government has rejected those claims, saying militancy in Pakistan is an internal security issue.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has experienced a rise in militant attacks in recent months. The region has historically been affected by armed groups, with security operations frequently targeting fighters linked to various militant organisations.
Authorities have not confirmed the identity of those behind the latest attack or provided further details on the explosives used. Security forces remain at the scene as investigations continue.
