KOHAT, Pakistan — At least 15 people were killed and more than 50 others injured Friday after an explosion struck near a mosque in the Police Lines area of Kohat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to local medical and police officials.
Tahir Ali Shah, medical superintendent of Kohat’s District Headquarters Hospital, said 15 bodies had been brought to the facility following the blast, along with more than 50 injured people. Hospital authorities later said at least 25 wounded people had been admitted for treatment.
Police said the explosion occurred during Friday prayers and left a crater outside the mosque. Several police personnel were among those injured, officials said.
The blast caused extensive damage to the mosque’s outer section and brought down part of a wall, according to rescue officials. Emergency teams were conducting search-and-rescue operations at the site.
Authorities deployed additional security personnel across the Police Lines area following the explosion and closed the Kohat-Hangu Road to traffic.
The administration of the district headquarters hospital declared an emergency as casualties were brought in for treatment.
Officials had not immediately provided further details on the cause of the explosion or identified those responsible.
