A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded almost 170 others during Friday prayers at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Pakistan’s capital, officials said on Friday.
The attack took place at the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah, located in a semi-urban area on the outskirts of Islamabad. Images from the scene showed bloodied bodies lying on the mosque’s carpeted floor amid shattered glass and debris, as panicked worshippers sought help.
Dozens of the wounded were seen lying in the mosque’s gardens while emergency responders rushed victims to nearby hospitals. “The death toll in the blast has risen. A total of 31 people have lost their lives. The number of wounded brought to hospitals has risen to 169,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon said in a statement.
Two police officials said the attacker was stopped at the mosque gate before detonating the explosives. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Bombings are rare in Islamabad, one of Pakistan’s most heavily guarded cities, but the country has faced a renewed surge in militant violence in recent years. Shi’ite Muslims, who are a minority in Pakistan’s predominantly Sunni population of about 241 million, have frequently been targeted in sectarian attacks in the past.
In a previous incident, a suicide bombing in November killed 12 people and wounded 27 others in Islamabad. Pakistani authorities said that attack was carried out by an Afghan national, though no group claimed responsibility.
