A significant explosion devastated a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital during Friday prayers, resulting in the death of 31 individuals and injuring a minimum of 169 others, according to police reports. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Telegram.
Authorities in Islamabad confirmed the mosque blast as a deliberate attack and initiated an investigation. Rescuers and witnesses described a distressing scene, with casualties and wounded individuals strewn across the mosque’s floor. Television footage and social media images displayed police and locals aiding the injured to nearby medical facilities.
Following the incident, Pakistan’s interior minister, Moshin Naqvi, announced the arrest of four individuals suspected of aiding the suicide bomber. Naqvi mentioned during a press briefing that the apprehensions, including the alleged mastermind, were carried out through raids in Peshawar and Nowshera.
Eyewitness Hussain Shah recounted being in the mosque courtyard during the explosion, which caused chaos and panic among the worshippers. Shah estimated around 30 bodies inside the mosque, with a higher number of wounded.
The surge in militant activities in Pakistan, attributed mainly to Baloch separatist groups and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, has raised concerns. Additionally, an affiliate of the Islamic State group has been active in the region.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif detailed preliminary findings indicating the suicide bomber had crossed into and out of Afghanistan. The mosque’s security personnel attempted to intercept the attacker, leading to gunfire and the detonation of explosives among worshippers.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly denounced the attack, emphasizing the violation of sanctity and the targeting of innocent individuals. International condemnation poured in from various countries, including the United States and the European Union.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong condemnation and extended condolences to the affected families. They called the targeting of civilians a crime against humanity and vowed to provide necessary medical aid to the wounded.
Efforts are underway to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the attack. The incident occurred while Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in Islamabad for an official visit, attending an event several kilometers away from the site of the explosion.
The recent bombing in Islamabad marks a tragic event in the city, with the last deadly attack occurring in 2008 at the Marriott Hotel. The region has been grappling with security challenges, highlighted by recent attacks in Balochistan province resulting in significant casualties on both sides.