Suicide Bombing Outside Islamabad Court Kills 12
A suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad has left at least 12 people dead and 27 others injured, with authorities still working to piece together details of the attack. The explosion, which occurred during one of the court’s busiest hours, has shaken the capital and heightened fears of a return to militant violence in the region.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the bombing took place near a police vehicle after the attacker was unable to breach the courthouse's security. He said that the attacker tried to “enter the court premises but, failing to do so, targeted a police vehicle.” The blast, which shattered windows and damaged several vehicles, occurred outside the courthouse, where dozens of people had gathered for hearings. Witnesses described a scene of utter chaos, with victims lying near a damaged police van and others running for cover.
One lawyer, Rustam Malik, recalled the horror he witnessed. “It was complete chaos. Lawyers and people were running inside the complex,” he told AFP. “I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire.” Disturbing footage from the scene showed the remains of a burnt-out car and a cordoned-off area as emergency services worked to clear the wreckage.
The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) has not claimed responsibility for the attack, though the country has faced a rise in militant violence in recent months, including other attacks attributed to the group. “We are probing what kind of blast it was. It is not clear yet,” a local police spokesperson said. Authorities are awaiting a report from forensic experts to shed light on the nature of the bombing.
Security has been heightened across the capital following the attack, with extra measures taken at key government and judicial buildings. In addition to the bombing, Pakistan’s security forces thwarted a separate attempt by militants to storm an army-run cadet college near the Afghan border. Meanwhile, a roadside bomb in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region injured 16 members of Pakistan’s security forces, underscoring the ongoing security problems the country faces.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly act" of violence. As the investigation into the bombing continues, authorities are focusing on identifying the bomber and bringing those responsible to justice.
