Twelve individuals lost their lives in an apparent “suicide explosion” outside the district court in Islamabad. Responders, including emergency teams, bomb disposal units, and forensic experts, swiftly arrived at the site to investigate the incident. Approximately 20 people suffered various injuries, with some receiving treatment at PIMS Hospital in the capital. Initial reports suggested that the explosion originated from a nearby vehicle, leading to a fire outbreak.
Authorities are currently determining the nature of the blast, with a police spokesperson mentioning that further details will be provided following a forensic analysis. Official sources confirmed the death toll at twelve, with at least 20 individuals wounded. Efforts are underway to identify the victims, as reported by local media outlets.
Following the blast, security measures in Islamabad have been heightened, particularly around government buildings to thwart any potential secondary attacks. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi disclosed that the suicide bomber tried to access the court premises but resorted to detonating explosives near a police vehicle when unsuccessful.
Footage captured near the scene depicted a group of onlookers observing from a nearby building as thick smoke billowed from a vehicle on the ground. The sound of alarms filled the air as witnesses recorded the chaotic scene on their mobile devices.
A lawyer present at the site described the situation as “utter chaos,” recounting the moment of the blast and the ensuing panic among lawyers and visitors. The lawyer, Rustam Malik, witnessed the aftermath with two bodies and several burning cars at the entrance gate.
The explosion occurred shortly after security forces foiled an overnight assault in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghanistan border. The thwarted attack involved a suicide car bomber and five militants targeting a former stronghold of TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan), al-Qaeda, and other armed factions.
According to local police chief Alamgir Mahsud, troops swiftly neutralized two militants, while the remaining three sought refuge inside the compound before being contained in an administrative building.
