Pakistani security forces killed eight militants in an overnight operation after a deadly attack on a mosque inside a police compound in Kohat, officials said on Saturday.
The operation lasted some 20 hours, police said, ending after security forces swept the compound in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The militants had taken positions inside buildings after the attack on Friday.
The attack began when a car packed with explosives exploded close to the mosque during Friday prayers, followed by gunmen storming the police compound. Officials said at least 21 people, including 15 police officers, were killed and 103 wounded.
Police said the bodies of eight attackers were recovered after the operation. According to an Associated Press report, six attackers, not including the bombers, were killed by police after two attackers set off explosives inside the compound on Saturday morning.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said, “Police, Counter Terrorism Department and security forces fought valiantly; these brave personnel are the pride of the nation,” according to Dawn.
Pakistani media quoted Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s Ittehadul Mujahideen group as claiming the attack.
