A suicide bombing at a mosque inside a police compound in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 27 people on Friday, including police officers and civilians gathered for prayers.

The attack occurred in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the mosque entrance around midday local time. Worshippers were attending Friday prayers at the site near police headquarters. The blast was followed by a gun battle as militants attempted to storm the compound.

Provincial police chief Zulfikar Hameed confirmed the suicide bombing and described the sequence of events. At least 15 police officers were among the dead, along with civilians. Dozens more were wounded, with reports of injuries ranging from 50 to over 100. The mosque sustained heavy damage, and the outer wall of the police facility collapsed.

A group calling itself Ittehadul Mujahideen claimed responsibility. The faction is linked to Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur and operates in the region. Authorities said several attackers were killed during the ensuing firefight.

The incident highlights the ongoing surge in militant violence in Pakistan's border areas. Attacks by groups affiliated with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or Pakistani Taliban, have increased in recent months, targeting security forces and civilians alike. The province borders Afghanistan, where Islamabad has long accused the ruling Taliban of providing sanctuary to militants.

Pakistan's prime minister and president both condemned the attack. Rescue operations continued into the evening as hospitals in the area treated the injured.

This marks another deadly strike in a pattern of violence that has plagued the region for years. Earlier attacks, including a 2023 suicide bombing in Peshawar that killed over 100, underscore the persistent threat from Islamist militants operating near the Afghan border.