A powerful explosion rocked a mosque near the Police Lines in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on Friday, September 18, triggering panic as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.
According to police and rescue officials, at least seven people were killed and more than 30 others were injured in the blast. Most of the injured were worshippers who were inside or near the mosque at the time of the explosion.
The blast caused significant damage to the mosque and nearby structures, with parts of a wall reportedly collapsing. Rescue teams rushed to the site and began taking the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital in Kohat, where emergency arrangements were put in place.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed damaged buildings and walls, while people could be seen rushing towards the area to help those affected.
Authorities cordoned off the area and additional security personnel were deployed around the Police Lines. The Kohat-Hangu Road was also closed following the explosion.
Initial reports also mentioned sounds of gunfire in the area after the blast. Police and security agencies were investigating the cause of the explosion and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The casualty figures remain subject to change as rescue and relief operations continue.
