{
  "id": 9280602,
  "title": "'Heinous and cowardly': UNSC condemns Kohat terrorist attack, calls for accountability for perpetrators, sponsors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/heinous-and-cowardly-unsc-condemns-kohat-terrorist-attack-calls-for-9280602",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T05:53:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2032037/heinous-and-cowardly-unsc-condemns-kohat-terrorist-attack-calls-for-accountability-for-perpetrators-sponsors"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on September 18, 2020. The deadly two-pronged assault resulted in at least 23 casualties, including 17 policemen and six civilians. The attack began with the detonation of an explosives-laden vehicle near a mosque during Friday prayers, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities. In retaliation, KP police reported that eight terrorists were killed during a counter-offensive by police and security forces.\n\nDuring a statement issued by the UNSC President, Jérôme Bonnafont, the council unequivocally condemned the \"heinous and cowardly\" act, explicitly calling for the accountability of the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of the attack. All member states expressed sympathy and condolences to the victims' families and the government, as well as extending their best wishes for the injured to make a swift recovery.\n\nThe UNSC emphasized the threat that terrorism poses to international peace and security, stressing the need to hold accountable all those responsible for committing acts of terrorism, regardless of their motivation, location, timing, or perpetrators. The Security Council reiterated the necessity for all states to combat terrorism by all means, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and various international laws, including human rights, refugee, and humanitarian law.\n\nThe attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen. Following the incident, KP police conducted a clearance operation, which concluded on Saturday. The operation involved Elite Force commandos, Counterterrorism Department (CTD) teams, and security forces clearing key parts of the affected buildings. Chief Minister Safiullah Khan Afridi sought a detailed report on the incident, deeming the targeting of innocent citizens \"deeply regrettable and unacceptable.\"\n\nIn 2010, a remote-controlled bomb blast killed 20 people and injured over 90 others in a police colony near Kohat Police Lines during Ramadan. On Monday, in response to recent terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Kohat bombing, the armed forces conducted airstrikes on terrorist sites in the border region with Afghanistan, killing more than 28 terrorists.",
  "summary": "The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday condemned last week’s terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district, calling for the perpetrators and sponsors of the attack to be held accountable. At least 23 people were killed in the September 18’s deadly two-pronged assault , including 17 policemen and six civilians. After detonating an explosives-laden vehicle near a mosque…",
  "key_points": [
    "UNSC condemns Kohat terrorist attack as heinous and cowardly",
    "Calls for accountability of perpetrators, organizers, financiers, sponsors",
    "KP police report 8 terrorists killed in counter-offensive"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The UNSC's strong condemnation and call for accountability signals a firm international stance against terrorism, emphasizing the threat it poses to global peace and security and the need for collective action.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "'Heinous and cowardly': UNSC condemns Kohat terrorist attack, calls for accountability for perpetrators, sponsors",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/heinous-and-cowardly-unsc-condemns-kohat-terrorist-attack-calls-for",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:18:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}