A deadly explosion, suspected to be a suicide blast, has claimed the lives of twelve individuals outside the district court in Islamabad. Responding swiftly, emergency teams, including bomb disposal units and forensic experts, rushed to the site to investigate the incident. Approximately 20 people have been injured, with some receiving medical treatment at PIMS Hospital in the capital city. Initial reports suggest that the explosion originated from a parked vehicle near the court building, leading to a fire outbreak.
Authorities are currently examining the nature of the blast and awaiting a detailed forensic report for further insights. Confirming the tragic toll, senior officials disclosed that twelve individuals lost their lives, while many others sustained injuries. Efforts are underway to identify the victims as per local reports.
Following the incident, security measures have been intensified in Islamabad, particularly around government institutions, to thwart any potential follow-up attacks. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the suicide attacker tried to access the court premises but resorted to detonating explosives near a police vehicle when entry was denied.
Videos captured near the scene depict a chaotic scenario with a crowd observing thick smoke billowing from a vehicle amidst blaring alarms. Witnesses recorded the unfolding turmoil on their mobile devices. An eyewitness, lawyer Rustam Malik, described the situation as tumultuous, recounting the sounds of a loud explosion and the sight of casualties and burning vehicles at the complex entrance.
The explosion occurred shortly after security forces successfully thwarted an attack on a cadet college in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghanistan border. The thwarted assault involved armed assailants, including a suicide car bomber and five militants linked to TTP, al-Qaeda, and other extremist groups. Local law enforcement authorities reported that two militants were neutralized swiftly, while the remaining three were contained within an administrative block on the premises.