Eight terrorists killed as Kohat Police Lines operation ends

Summary PESHAWAR: An overnight clearance operation at the old Police Lines in Kohat has concluded after security forces and police killed eight terrorists, officials said on Saturday. The operation continued for around 21 hours following a deadly attack on the police compound on Friday. Senior police and security officials remained at the site as the operation continued. AI Generated Summary PESHAWAR: An overnight clearance operation at the old Police Lines in Kohat has concluded after security forces and police killed eight terrorists, officials said on Saturday. The operation continued for around 21 hours following a deadly attack on the police compound on Friday. Elite Force commandos, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams and security personnel took part in the clearance operation. According to the police, key areas of the buildings were searched and cleared during the operation. Senior police and security officials remained at the site as the operation continued. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed visited the scene and praised the personnel involved in the operation. He also announced rewards for officers who participated. Officials said the CTD additional inspector general was injured during the operation when terrorists threw a grenade. He sustained an injury to his hand but returned to the frontline after receiving first aid. The terrorists had reportedly entered the Special Branch building after an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in the old Police Lines area. The attack on Friday left at least 21 people dead, including 15 police personnel, while more than 100 others were injured. Several senior officials were among those killed, including SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari and DHQ Hospital paediatric department head Dr Israel Orakzai. The attack involved a vehicle carrying explosives, followed by an assault on the police compound and attacks on security facilities. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. Funeral prayers for the martyred police personnel were held in Kohat on Friday evening. Their bodies were later transported to their respective hometowns in Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mardan. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sought a detailed report on the incident and directed authorities to provide immediate medical treatment to those injured. He condemned the attack and said terrorism would not weaken the morale of the people. The incident has brought back memories of a 2010 bombing at a police colony near the Kohat Police Lines. That attack killed 20 people and injured more than 90 others.