A suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 12 people and left at least 27 others injured. According to officials, the attacker tried to enter the courthouse but failed and instead detonated the explosives nearby.
Authorities say identifying the bomber is now a top priority, and everyone involved in planning the attack will be pursued. The country’s leadership has strongly condemned the incident, calling it an attack on innocent citizens.
A militant faction has reportedly claimed responsibility, but there are conflicting statements about who is actually behind the explosion. Suicide attacks in Islamabad have been uncommon in recent years, making this blast especially alarming.
Video from the scene showed a burnt car, heavy smoke, and a tight security cordon. Investigators say the attacker waited around 15 minutes before triggering the bomb next to a police vehicle. The blast occurred at midday, shaking the area and causing chaos.
Witnesses described running for safety after hearing a loud explosion. Several vehicles caught fire, and victims were seen near the gate of the court.
In a separate incident the previous day, a car explosion in New Delhi killed multiple people. Authorities there have not yet labelled it a terror attack, but they have pledged to find those responsible.
Islamabad has not experienced a suicide bombing in about three years, although such attacks have continued in other regions of the country.