Blast rips through mosque during Friday prayers in northwest Pakistan; 16 killed, dozens injured
A suicide blast at a mosque near police lines in Pakistan's Kohat district killed at least 16 people during Friday prayers. Rescue operations are underway, and the death toll includes both police personnel and civilians.
Why it matters
The attack represents a significant security breach in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, highlighting ongoing regional instability and threats to public safety.
At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured in a powerful suicide blast during Friday prayers (September 18, 2026) at a mosque near police lines in Kohat district in northwest Pakistan, officials said.
The blast occurred at the mosque located near the old Police Lines in Kohat district, around 60 kilometres southwest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's capital Peshawar, they said.
At least 16 people, including five police personnel and 11 civilians, were killed in the suicide blast at the Kohat Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during Friday prayers, provincial Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed said.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Citing District Headquarters Hospital's MS Tahir Ali Shah, Geo News reported that 15 bodies were brought to the hospital along with over 50 injured following the blast.
Most of those wounded were worshippers, police said, adding that the blast caused a crater outside the mosque.
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