Six civilians, 15 police officers killed in twin bombings near police compound in northwestern Pakistan

Rescue workers transport an injured victim of a bomb explosion to a hospital in Kohat, in northwestern Pakistan, Friday, Sept 18, 2026. - Photo: AP

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON (Bernama-Anadolu): At least 21 people, including six civilians and 15 police officers, were killed and over 100 others wounded in a suicide bombing targeting a police compound in northwestern Pakistan during Friday prayers (Sept 18), Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing local media.

The casualties occurred when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the Old Police Lines gate in the Kohat district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a senior police official said, according to local broadcaster Geo News.

An Army soldier and local residents look at a damaged portion of a mosque after a bomb exploded in Kohat, in northwestern Pakistan, Friday, Sept 18, 2026. - Photo: AP

Tahir Ali Shah, the top official at Kohat District Hospital, earlier confirmed that 15 bodies were brought to the healthcare facility, besides wounded people.

Police said six "terrorists", including a suicide bomber, were also killed. In a statement, police said a clearance operation was underway.

The explosion created a crater outside the mosque in the police compound.

An army personnel walks amid the rubble following an explosion inside the police headquarters at Kohat in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sept 18, 2026. An explosion at a historic police headquarters in northern Pakistan on Sept 18 killed at least eight people and wounded 35 more, officials said, with the country's president swiftly blaming a militant group. - Photo: AFP

According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police inspector general, another suicide blast took place at a special branch police building during an exchange of gunfire.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed regret over the citizens’ casualties in the Kohat blast.

"The complete elimination of Fitna al-Khawarij” - a term Islamabad uses to designate the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group - "and terrorists" is essential for national security, he said on social media platform X.

Separately, seven militants were killed by Pakistani security forces in two operations in the southwestern Balochistan province, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Onlookers gather at the site of an explosion inside the police headquarters at Kohat in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on September 18, 2026. An explosion at a historic police headquarters in northern Pakistan on September 18 killed at least eight people and wounded 35 more, officials said, with the country's president swiftly blaming a militant group. - Photo: AFP

Attacks targeting civilians and places of worship are unacceptable: UN

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly condemns" the bomb attack.

Guterres extends his "deepest" condolences to the families of those killed and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured, he said.

Onlookers gather at the site of an explosion inside the police headquarters at Kohat in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sept 18, 2026. An explosion at a historic police headquarters in northern Pakistan on Sept 18 killed at least eight people and wounded 35 more, officials said, with the country's president swiftly blaming a militant group. - Photo: AFP

"The Secretary-General underscores that attacks targeting civilians and places of worship are unacceptable and calls for those responsible to be held to account and to be brought to justice," Dujarric said.

Guterres also expressed his solidarity and the solidarity of the UN with the people and government of Pakistan in their efforts to address terrorism and extremism, he added. - Bernama-Anadolu