30 killed, 50 injured in suicide blast at Pakistan mosque during Friday namaz

Written by: Express Web Desk

2 min readUpdated: Sep 19, 2026 10:24 AM IST

Police said most of those wounded were worshippers who were inside or near the mosque at the time of the blast. (Photo: @PresstvExtra/X)

At least 30 people were killed and more than 50 others were injured after a powerful suicide blast struck a mosque near the old Police Lines in Kohat district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during Friday prayers, officials said.

The explosion took place at a mosque located close to the old Police Lines in Kohat, around 60 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, the provincial capital. The blast occurred while worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the death toll included five police personnel and 11 civilians. No individual or organisation has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

A powerful mosque blast in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reportedly injured many worshippers, with possible fatalities. Follow: https://t.co/Ez42KDda7X pic.twitter.com/Tzo49JVngF — PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) September 18, 2026

The number of casualties was confirmed by officials at the District Headquarters Hospital. According to hospital Medical Superintendent Tahir Ali Shah, 15 bodies had been brought to the facility along with more than 50 injured people following the explosion, the PTI reported.

Police said most of those wounded were worshippers who were inside or near the mosque at the time of the blast. The explosion was reportedly so powerful that it created a crater outside the mosque.

Police officers secure a road leading to the site of a powerful bomb at a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan, Friday, September 18, 2026. (AP Photo)

Rescue operation underway

Rescue teams from Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached the location soon after receiving information about the explosion and began operations at the site.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said several injured people were transported to nearby hospitals for initial treatment, the PTI report said. Rescue personnel remained at the scene while authorities assessed the situation and continued their response.

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The attack comes amid continued security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, though no group has claimed responsibility for the Kohat mosque blast so far. Further details about the circumstances of the explosion and the identities of those killed and injured were not immediately available.

(With inputs from agencies)