Suicide attack targets police facility in Kohat, Pakistan

On September 18, 2026, a suicide car bomb attack struck a police facility in the city of Kohat, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The explosion occurred as a vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into the facility's perimeter wall while police officers and their families were attending Friday prayers at an on-site mosque. At least 16 people, including five police officers, were killed in the incident.

Following the initial explosion, gunmen engaged in a shootout with security personnel. Authorities reported that one additional attacker, who was wearing an explosive vest, was killed during the confrontation. Provincial police chief Zulfiqar Hamid confirmed the details of the attack, while the Interior Ministry condemned the violence as a cowardly act. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault, and investigations into the perpetrators and their motives are ongoing.

This attack takes place against a backdrop of increasing militant activity in Pakistan's border regions. Pakistani officials stated that such actions would not weaken the nation's resolve to combat insurgency. As of now, no further details on potential suspects have been released by the government.