Five cops were among 16 martyred in an explosion at Kohat Police Lines, according to officials.
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cops → martyr → officials
Footage aired on television showed citizens gathered next to a building with a collapsed wall, digging through rubble and helping the injured.
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citizens → air → injured
The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
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attack → claim → Mujahideen
Speaking to Dawn, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed confirmed the death toll, adding that more than 50 people were injured.
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people → speak → toll
He told Dawn that a vehicle-borne suicide bomber initially struck the building’s gate.
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bomber → tell → gate
He said that some headed towards the Counter Terrorism Department building, where they were neutralised, while around three went to the Special Branch building.
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three → say → building
An initial handout from IG Hameed said the explosion occurred at a mosque at Kohat Police Lines.
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explosion → say → Lines
It added that initial reports suggested an explosive-laden vehicle was rammed into the building.
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vehicle → add → building
In a later statement, he said that a suicide bomber detonated himself near the Special Branch building, adding that an exchange of fire was underway with Fitna al Khawarij terrorists.
“The operation will continue until the complete elimination of Fitna-ul-Khawarij,” the IG was quoted as saying, adding that the police’s morale remained high.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
At around 3:30pm, police said the clearance operation was “in its final stages”.
The statement detailed that seven terrorists had attempted to infiltrate Police Lines after the explosion.
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terrorists → say → explosion
“So far, six terrorists, including a suicide bomber, have been killed,” the statement said.
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statement → include → bomber
Separately, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sought a detailed report on the incident, saying the targeting of innocent citizens was “deeply regrettable and unacceptable,” as per a statement issued by his office.
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targeting → seek → office
He directed authorities to ensure immediate treatment for the injured.
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He → direct → injured
“The nation’s morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism,” he was quoted as saying.
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he → dampen → terrorism
In 2010, 20 people, mostly the relatives of policemen, were killed and more than 90 injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast inside a police colony located just behind the Kohat Police Lines.
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90 → kill → Lines
Condemnations pour in
President Asif Ali Zardari, condemning the incident, vowed that the complete elimination of foreign-sponsored terrorists was “essential for national security”.
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elimination → pour → security
President Zardari wished the injured a swift recovery.
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Zardari → wish → recovery
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought a report on the blast from the concerned authorities.
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Sharif → seek → authorities
He also directed authorities to expedite relief operations, Radio Pakistan reported.
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Pakistan → direct → operations
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the blast, praying for the recovery of the injured.
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Kundi → condemn → injured
“The entire nation stands with the security forces to eradicate terrorism,” he said in a statement.
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he → stand → statement
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in his condemnation that terrorists’ “cowardly acts cannot weaken the nation’s resolve”.
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acts → say → resolve
A statement posted on his ministry’s X account said Naqvi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the attack and extended condolence to the bereaved.
“The nation is standing with the families of the martyrs in this moment of grief,” he was quoted as saying.
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he → post → grief
This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves.
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situation → develop → ?
We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.
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We → strive → authorities
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