A reported explosion, believed to be a suicide blast, has resulted in the death of twelve individuals outside the district court in Islamabad. Emergency responders, including bomb disposal units and forensic teams, swiftly arrived at the scene to investigate the incident. Approximately 20 people have been injured to varying degrees, with some rushed to PIMS Hospital in the capital for treatment. Initial reports suggest that the explosion originated from a vehicle parked near the court building, igniting a fire.
“We are currently investigating the nature of the blast,” stated a police spokesperson on Tuesday. “Further details will be provided once we receive the forensic team’s report.” Senior officials have confirmed the death toll at twelve, with at least 20 others sustaining injuries. Authorities are working on identifying the victims, as reported by local sources.
In response to the blast, heightened security measures have been implemented in Islamabad, particularly around government establishments, to prevent any potential follow-up attacks. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the suicide attacker had attempted to enter the court premises but resorted to detonating explosives near a police vehicle when unsuccessful.
Witnesses captured footage near the site showing a group of individuals gathered on a nearby building’s balcony as thick smoke billowed from a vehicle below. Sounds of alarms blaring filled the background as onlookers recorded the chaotic scene on their mobile devices.
A lawyer present at the complex described the situation as “utter chaos.” Rustam Malik recounted, “As I arrived and entered the complex, a loud bang echoed at the gate. It was a scene of complete chaos, with lawyers and individuals rushing inside the complex. I witnessed two bodies at the gate and several vehicles engulfed in flames.”
The explosion occurred shortly after Pakistani security forces thwarted an overnight assault where armed assailants attacked a cadet college in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghanistan border. The thwarted attack involved a suicide car bomber and five militants targeting a former stronghold for TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan), al-Qaeda, and other militant factions.
According to local police chief Alamgir Mahsud, troops swiftly neutralized two militants, while the remaining three sought refuge in an administrative block within the compound before being contained.
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