Islamabad: A suicide bombing during Friday prayers at a Shia place of worship in Pakistan’s capital claimed at least 31 lives and left close to 170 people injured, officials said on Friday.
The explosion occurred at the Khadijatul Kubra mosque-cum-imambargah in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, triggering chaos and panic among worshippers present at the time.
Police officials said the attacker was stopped at the entrance of the imambargah but managed to detonate the explosives before being fully neutralised. The blast caused extensive damage and resulted in a large number of casualties, many of whom were critically wounded.
District administration officials confirmed the death toll at 31, while 169 people were reported injured. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said that more than 80 injured individuals and at least 15 bodies were rushed to different hospitals in the immediate aftermath.
Rescue teams, including Rescue 1122, arrived at the scene promptly and carried out evacuation and relief operations. Law enforcement agencies, supported by army personnel and Rangers, cordoned off the area and launched search operations to ensure security.
Hospitals throughout Islamabad were placed on high alert to treat the injured, with emergency protocols activated.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, police sources indicated that the bomber was believed to be a foreign national with suspected links to Fitna al Khwaraji, the term used by authorities for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The incident follows another suicide bombing outside a district and sessions court in Islamabad less than three months ago, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people, further heightening security concerns in the capital.
Investigations into the attack are underway, and security across the city has been tightened.
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