Car B0mb K!lls 16, Including Five Police Officers At Mosque During Prayers

Car Bomb Kills 16, Including Five Police Officers At Mosque During Prayers

A gun battle between the attackers and security forces was still ongoing at the scene after the explosion.

Avehicle loaded with explosives rammed into a mosque in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, north-western Pakistan, on Friday, killing at least 16 people, including five police officers, during prayers.

The BBC reported that a senior police official in Peshawar confirmed the death toll. More than 50 people were also injured in the blast, according to reports, while rescue workers began searching the site for survivors.

A gun battle between the attackers and security forces was still ongoing at the scene after the explosion. A police officer said one of the attackers had been killed, while security personnel continued efforts to secure the area.

The attack occurred at a mosque located in the Kohat Police Lines area, where police personnel were among those affected. The explosion caused extensive damage to the mosque and triggered a rescue operation as emergency workers searched for people trapped under debris.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concern over the casualties and wished those injured a swift recovery.

Authorities had not immediately identified those responsible for the attack or disclosed a motive. Security forces remained at the scene as the operation continued and the authorities worked to account for the victims and secure the area.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced repeated militant attacks in recent years, with police and security personnel frequently targeted in the province. The latest attack comes amid continuing security concerns in north-western Pakistan.