Twelve individuals lost their lives in what authorities are investigating as a possible suicide bombing near the district court in Islamabad. Following the incident, emergency response teams, bomb disposal units, and forensic experts swiftly arrived at the location to assess the situation. Approximately 20 people suffered injuries of various severities, with some receiving treatment at the PIMS Hospital in the capital. Initial reports suggest that the explosion originated from a vehicle parked in close proximity to the court building, leading to a conflagration.
“We are currently examining the nature of the explosion,” stated a police spokesperson on Tuesday. “Further information will be provided once we receive the forensic team’s report.” Senior officials confirmed the death toll at twelve, with at least 20 others wounded. Efforts are underway to identify the victims, as reported by local sources.
The blast prompted heightened security measures throughout Islamabad, particularly around government premises, to thwart any potential subsequent attacks. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the alleged suicide bomber attempted to access the court premises but triggered the explosives near a police vehicle after failing to do so.
Footage captured near the site depicted a crowd observing the unfolding events from a nearby building’s balcony as thick smoke billowed from a vehicle on the ground. Sirens blared in the background while witnesses documented the chaos on their mobile devices.
A lawyer present at the scene described the situation as “utter pandemonium.” Recalling the moment, Rustam Malik recounted, “As I parked my car and entered the complex, I heard a loud bang at the gate. It was chaotic, with lawyers and individuals rushing inside. I witnessed two bodies at the gate and several vehicles ablaze.”
The explosion occurred shortly after Pakistani security forces successfully repelled an attack involving armed assailants storming a cadet college in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Authorities reported that the thwarted assault included a suicide car bomber and five accomplices targeting a former stronghold of various militant groups.
According to local police chief Alamgir Mahsud, two militants were neutralized swiftly, while the remaining three sought refuge inside an administrative block before being apprehended by security forces.
