IS Claims Suicide Blast at Islamabad Mosque; 31 Dead, 169 Injured
IS Claims Suicide Blast at Islamabad Mosque; 31 Dead, 169 Injured
A suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad during Friday prayers leaves 31 dead and 169 wounded, with IS claiming responsibility.
A suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad during Friday prayers left at least 31 people dead and 169 wounded, officials said. The attack struck the Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai area on the city’s outskirts, and the death toll was expected to rise. A security source told AFP that the attacker was stopped at the gate and detonated the explosive vest. IS later claimed responsibility, saying one of its militants targeted the congregation to inflict a large number of deaths and injuries, according to SITE Intelligence Group.
Muhammad Kazim, a 52-year-old worshipper, described an “extremely powerful” explosion as prayers were just starting. He said there was gunfire during the event and that worshippers were overwhelmed by the blast. Imran Mahmood, another worshipper, said there was a clash between the bomber and volunteer security personnel, and that the bomber detonated the explosives after being hit in the thigh. Police and security teams conducted a search as the capital grappled with the shock of the attack.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed that those behind the blast would be found and brought to justice. The bombing is the deadliest attack in Pakistan’s capital since the 2008 Marriott hotel bombing, underscoring ongoing security challenges in the region. The incident prompted renewed calls for heightened protection at mosques and other worship places, especially during Friday prayers, as investigators work to determine the full sequence of events and any possible accomplices. Security forces have been step up patrols and screenings in the wake of the tragedy, with officials urging the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious.
