A suicide attack outside a court in Pakistan's capital Islamabad has killed 12 people and injured at least 27 others, the country's interior minister reported. Mohsin Naqvi disclosed that a bomber was planning to hit the district courthouse but could not gain entry. The attacker waited near a police vehicle before detonating a bomb. Authorities are prioritizing the identification of the bomber and have vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has alleged that extremist groups 'actively backed by India' may be implicated in the attack, though the Indian government has rejected these accusations as 'baseless'. Jumaat Ul Ahrar, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), has claimed responsibility, although the TTP's central leadership distanced itself from the explosion.
Despite being infrequent in recent years, suicide blasts in Islamabad have left a lasting impact. Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of chaos as individuals fled from the courthouse while the area was cordoned off by police. The 27 injured are currently receiving medical treatment.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. A lawyer present during the blast recounted hearing a loud bang and observing bodies lying outside the courthouse. This attack marks a significant event in Islamabad, which has seen few similar incidents over recent years.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has alleged that extremist groups 'actively backed by India' may be implicated in the attack, though the Indian government has rejected these accusations as 'baseless'. Jumaat Ul Ahrar, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), has claimed responsibility, although the TTP's central leadership distanced itself from the explosion.
Despite being infrequent in recent years, suicide blasts in Islamabad have left a lasting impact. Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of chaos as individuals fled from the courthouse while the area was cordoned off by police. The 27 injured are currently receiving medical treatment.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. A lawyer present during the blast recounted hearing a loud bang and observing bodies lying outside the courthouse. This attack marks a significant event in Islamabad, which has seen few similar incidents over recent years.
