The death toll from the suicide bombing at a Kohat mosque rose to 21 on Tuesday, as medical officials confirmed that several victims succumbed to their injuries overnight. The blast, which tore through the facility during Friday prayers, remains one of the deadliest attacks in the region this year.
Doctors at the KDA Teaching Hospital confirmed that the number of fatalities increased after three critically wounded patients died in the intensive care unit. More than 40 others remain under treatment, with several listed in guarded condition.
The attacker struck just as the congregation was standing for the afternoon prayers. Witnesses described a scene of total chaos, with the roof of the mosque collapsing under the force of the blast. Local police officials said the suicide bomber managed to bypass security checkpoints by blending into the crowd of worshippers entering the building.
“We are still piecing together the security failure,” a senior police officer told reporters on condition of anonymity. “The perimeter was tight, but the density of the crowd created a blind spot that was exploited.”
The bombing has triggered a wave of condemnation across the province. In Peshawar, civil society groups staged a sit-in, demanding that the provincial government provide better protection for places of worship. They argue that despite repeated warnings of a resurgence in militant activity, security protocols at public venues remain porous.
While no group has yet claimed formal responsibility for the attack, investigators are pointing toward splinter factions operating out of the border regions. Forensic teams recovered fragments from the site, which are currently being analyzed to determine the composition of the explosive device.
For the residents of Kohat, the tragedy has reopened old wounds. This mosque had served as a pillar for the local community for decades, and the destruction of the structure is viewed by many as a deliberate attempt to sow sectarian discord.
As the final victims are laid to rest, the local administration has promised an inquiry into how a bomber was able to infiltrate the site. For the grieving families, however, the report will be little consolation for the loss of their loved ones.
