Kohat attack: FIR details how militants breached Police Lines mosque under cover of gunfire

PESHAWAR: A case has been registered over the deadly attack on Kohat's old Police Lines, with the FIR detailing how militants used an explosives-laden vehicle, opened fire and launched grenade attacks during an assault that left 22 people dead and 103 injured.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station registered the FIR at the complaint of the SHO of Kohat City police station, according to police.

Unknown militants have been booked under multiple provisions relating to terrorism, murder and attempted murder.

According to the FIR, militants belonging to what the state describes as Fitna al-Khawarij carried out a suicide attack using an explosives-laden vehicle at the Police Lines mosque.

The FIR says the attackers opened fire after the explosion and entered the Police Lines while firing. Police personnel confronted the militants and fought back against the attackers.

The assault involved suicide bombing, gunfire and grenade attacks, resulting in deaths and injuries, according to the FIR. It also states that the attack damaged government and private property.

At least 22 people were killed in the attack, including 16 police officials and six civilians, while 103 others were injured. Among those killed was Dr Israel Khan Orakzai, chief district specialist at Liaquat Memorial Hospital. Of the injured, 73 were police personnel, and 30 were civilians, according to hospital officials.

The attack began when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the old Police Lines before exploding, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid told Geo News.

Gunfire also erupted after the blast, while another suicide explosion occurred at the Special Branch building during an exchange of fire between security personnel and the militants.

The blast severely damaged the outer section of the mosque and caused a wall to collapse, while rescue teams worked to evacuate the wounded from the site. Kohat's District Headquarters Hospital declared an emergency following the attack.

Police and security forces subsequently launched an overnight clearance operation inside the Police Lines. Elite Force commandos, CTD teams and other security personnel took part in the operation, which cleared key sections of the compound.

Eight militants were ultimately killed during the operation, according to the Central Police Office. Security sources said the Pakistan Army joined the operation after Fajr prayers and killed the last two suicide bombers hiding inside the compound.

Separately, militants opened fire on a police post at the main gate of Kohat's district courts, damaging the post. No casualties were reported in the incident. Authorities subsequently closed nearby offices and courts and intensified security checks at the city's entry and exit points.

The attack has also intensified Pakistan's criticism of the Afghan Taliban over militant groups Islamabad says operate from Afghan territory.

Ministry of Information said the Kohat attack was carried out by terrorists with roots in Afghanistan and accused the Afghan Taliban regime of failing to take credible and verifiable action against terrorist groups.

Islamabad said it had repeatedly raised concerns over the alleged presence of terrorist sanctuaries, recruitment networks and support infrastructure in Afghanistan, which it said were being used to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistan said the Afghan Taliban must dismantle such networks and take 'credible, verifiable and sustained' measures to disrupt terrorist sanctuaries and recruitment and training networks.

The ministry also said it had noted Kabul's condemnation of the Kohat attack and expression of sympathy for the victims' families, but stressed that condemnation should be accompanied by concrete action.

Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan. The Taliban has rejected Islamabad's allegations concerning militant sanctuaries.

The latest attack comes amid a broader rise in militant violence in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.