A suicide bomber detonated himself outside a mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai suburb on Friday, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and over 170 injuries. The Imambargah Khadijatul Kubra mosque was crowded with Shiite Muslims attending Friday prayers when the attack occurred. Photographs from the scene depicted dozens of casualties lying injured or dead on the floor, while others were being transported to hospitals by any available vehicles.
Children among the wounded expressed shock and fear at the scene. The security official mentioned that such a significant assault had not been seen since two months prior, which prompted authorities to raise the alert level in Islamabad to its highest state.
According to eyewitnesses, the bomber was intercepted but managed to detonate themselves just outside the mosque entrance.
Zahir Hussain recalled, “I was parking my car intending to enter the mosque when suddenly I felt a massive explosion hit our area. For what seemed like an eternity afterward, there was utter silence. Then I saw what had happened inside—the sight of so many people in pain and suffering broke my heart.”
Emergency services declared Islamabad’s hospitals into emergency mode as they prepared for an influx of casualties. The nearby PIMS Hospital reported reaching full capacity due to the mass arrival of injured individuals. Some were subsequently moved to other facilities within Islamabad or in neighboring Rawalpindi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting with the interior minister and ordered an investigation into the bombing incident. In response, Sharif declared that those responsible would face justice, emphasizing no hatred should be spread through violence in Pakistan.
The perpetrators have not claimed responsibility yet, nor has any suspect been identified by authorities. Despite ongoing tensions within Pakistan related to various regional terrorist groups like Afghan/Taliban and ISIS-Khorasan, attacks specifically targeting Shiite Muslims are relatively uncommon. However, these groups occasionally carry out indiscriminate acts against civilians and security forces.