A bombing at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, during Friday prayers killed 31 people and wounded at least 169 others, officials said. Police are investigating whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
Islamabad Mosque Bombing: Death Toll Rises
The death toll from the bombing at the Khadija Al-Kubra mosque could climb higher, as some of the wounded are in critical condition. Television footage and social media images showed police and residents transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Rescuers and witnesses described a chaotic scene, with bodies and wounded individuals lying on the mosque’s carpeted floor. Hussain Shah, who was praying in the mosque courtyard, heard a loud explosion and described entering the mosque to find “utter chaos,” with many screaming for help. He estimated around 30 bodies were inside, with a significantly higher number of wounded.
No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, but suspicion may fall on militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban or the Islamic State group, which has been blamed for previous attacks on Shiite worshippers, a minority group in the country. Militant groups in Pakistan frequently target security forces and civilians.
While attacks are less common in Islamabad, Pakistan has experienced increased militant violence in recent months, attributed to Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A regional affiliate of the Islamic State group is also active in the country.
Initial casualty reports were lower, but Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon provided the updated figures.
Condemnation and Investigation
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims. They directed officials to provide full medical assistance to those wounded.
“Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” Zardari said. “The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time.”
Sharif ordered a full investigation, stating, “Those who are responsible must be identified and punished.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and instructed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the wounded.
The attack occurred while Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was on an official visit and attending an event with Sharif in Islamabad, several miles from the blast site.
Shiite leader Raja Nasir expressed deep sorrow over the attack, calling it a “serious failure” in protecting human lives and questioning the performance of authorities. He also urged people to donate blood due to urgent needs at Islamabad hospitals.
The deadliest attack in Islamabad prior to this was a 2008 suicide bombing at the Marriott Hotel, which killed 63 people and wounded over 250. In November, a suicide bomber struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12.
The latest attack follows a series of attacks last week by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army in Balochistan province, resulting in approximately 50 deaths. Security forces responded, killing more than 200 “terrorists,” according to the military.
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Associated Press writers Babar Dogar in Lahore and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this story.
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