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Suicide Blast at Pakistan Mosque Kills at Least 16
On Friday, September 18, 2026, an attacker rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a mosque near the Old Police Lines in Kohat, killing 16 people, including five police personnel, and wounding over 50 others, Provincial Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed said.
Violence has surged across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan -affiliated militants clash with security forces, who killed 10 suspected militants in raids between Tuesday and Thursday.
Rescue 1122 personnel and residents worked to pull survivors from rubble after the mosque's roof collapsed, while security forces cordoned off the area and launched search operations.
District Headquarters Hospital authorities declared an emergency to handle the influx of victims, as doctors confirmed some wounded were in critical condition and the blast damaged nearby homes and shops.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, vowing that eliminating foreign-sponsored terrorists is "essential for national security," while directing authorities to expedite relief efforts.
A suicide bombing in the Pakistani town of Kohat on the border with Afghanistan has resulted in the death of at least 21 people, according to the latest information, and reports the Dawn newspaper on Friday with a reference to the authorities.