Additional Coverage:
Deadly Mosque Bombing Rocks Pakistan, Leaving Dozens Dead and Injured
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A devastating suicide bombing at a mosque during Friday prayers in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 31 people and left 169 injured, according to authorities. The attack, which occurred at the Shia imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Tarlai section of the city, has prompted a state of emergency and an urgent appeal for blood donations.
Police officials reported that a suicide bomber detonated explosives within the congregation hall, a space often used for prayers. Witnesses described hearing gunfire immediately preceding the explosion.
In response to the tragedy, Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of neighboring Punjab, announced that her provincial government had dispatched 25 ambulances to Islamabad. She assured the public that “blood banks are fully staffed, and operation theaters are fully equipped to ensure prompt and effective medical care for the injured,” adding that “surgical teams, anesthetists, orthopedic and neurosurgical specialists are on standby.”
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif took to social media to attribute blame to India and Afghanistan, stating, “it has been proved the terrorist involved in the attack traveled to and from Afghanistan. The collusion between India and Afghanistan is being revealed.” He detailed that security guards had “challenged” the attacker, who then began shooting before ultimately blowing himself up in the last row of worshippers.
However, Tallal Chaudhry, Minister of State for Interior, later informed reporters that forensic tests indicated the attacker was not Afghani, but had indeed traveled to Afghanistan multiple times.
President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement expressing his condolences to the victims, condemning the incident as a “crime against humanity” for targeting innocent civilians. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also denounced the “cowardly” attack, emphasizing that “targeting places of worship and civilians is a heinous crime against humanity and a blatant violation of Islamic principles.” Dar affirmed Pakistan’s unity against terrorism, stating, “This barbarity will not intimidate us, and extremists will be brought to full account.”
Eyewitnesses shared harrowing accounts of the attack. Zaheer Abbas, who was praying inside the imambargah, recalled hearing gunshots before the explosion, after which “there were injured people lying everywhere.”
Syed Ashfaq, the mosque’s caretaker, rushed to the scene after hearing gunfire, only to find “bodies were lying everywhere, some were missing arms, some missing legs.” He recounted helping transport the most severely injured to a hospital in his own vehicle.
The incident comes as Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is visiting Pakistan. Islamabad has previously experienced similar violence, including a suicide attack on November 11 that resulted in 12 fatalities and 36 injuries.