AhlulBayt News Agency: An explosion at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, killed about 31 people and injured over 160 others on Friday, with officials warning that the death toll may rise further.
The blast struck Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in the Tarlai area of southeastern Islamabad during Friday prayers.
A district administration spokesperson confirmed that at least 31 people were killed and 169 wounded when the explosion ripped through the imambargah.
Earlier, a police source told AFP that at least 30 people had died and more than 130 were injured, noting that the toll was “expected to rise further.”
Images from the scene showed bodies lying on the carpeted floor amid shattered glass and debris, while outside the mosque, wounded worshippers were seen in the garden as bystanders called for help.
Police and Rescue 1122 teams arrived shortly after the blast and began rescue operations, according to Pakistani media.
The Islamabad administration reported that 169 people were transported to hospitals after emergency responders reached the site.
An emergency was declared at Polyclinic Hospital, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and CDA Hospital. A PIMS spokesperson told Dawn that the decision was made under the direction of the hospital’s executive director, and authorities appealed for blood donations.
Islamabad Capital Territory Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said it was too early to determine the exact nature of the explosion, though initial indications suggested a suicide bombing.
Security forces sealed off the area, and assistant commissioners were assigned to oversee medical care for the injured.
Pakistani officials strongly condemned the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep grief” over the tragedy.
President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences, stating that “targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” and directed that all possible medical assistance be provided.
Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, condemned the attack in a post on X, extending condolences to the government and people of Pakistan and praying for the recovery of the injured.
/129
Your Comment