21 people killed in attack on police complex in Pakistan — Dawn
At least 21 people, including 15 police officers, were killed in the Pakistani city of Kohat as a result of an explosion and a subsequent attack on the Kohat Police Lines complex. More than 80 others were injured, three of them in critical condition, Dawn reports, citing police and district health department officials.
Explosion near a mosque
According to police, a vehicle loaded with explosives detonated near a fence next to a mosque on the grounds of the police complex. The blast severely damaged the mosque building. Television footage showed people near the damaged structure clearing debris and helping the injured.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police inspector Zulfiqar Hameed said that a suicide bomber in a vehicle blew himself up near the complex gates. After that, several attackers headed toward the Counter Terrorism Department building, while about three more moved toward the Special Branch building.
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Security forces operation
Police said that at least seven attackers entered the complex grounds. According to them, security forces killed the suicide bomber and five other attackers. At least one attacker was surrounded inside the complex, after which a clearing operation began.
At around 15:30, police said that the operation was in its final stage. The Counter Terrorism Department also reported an exchange of fire between its officers and the attackers. The CTD deputy inspector general arrived at the scene and, according to the department, personally joined and led the operation.
The Ittehadul Mujahideen group, led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack. Sharif ordered that assistance to the victims be expedited and requested a report on the explosion.
