According to initial reports, 16 people, including five police personnel and 11 civilians, were killed and more than 50 others injured in a blast near the old Police Lines in Kohat.

According to police sources, following the blast, a suicide attacker blew himself up near the Special Branch building. An operation by the police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) against Fitna al-Khawarij is underway.

Police sources said a sniper militant was also killed during the operation, which is still ongoing.

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Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the blast at the mosque in Kohat Police Lines and sought a report from the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kohat.

Police said the Kohat-Hangu Road has been closed to all traffic, while additional personnel have been deployed around the Police Lines.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast near Kohat Police Lines. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the incident and took notice of the blast.