A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and injured nearly 170 others during Friday prayers at a Shi’ite mosque in Pakistan’s capital, officials said on Friday, in one of the deadliest attacks the city has seen in recent years.
The blast happened at the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah, located on the outskirts of Islamabad. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon confirmed the death toll had risen to 31, while 169 injured worshippers were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Police officials said the attacker was stopped at the mosque gate before detonating the explosives. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media.
Images from the scene showed bodies lying inside the mosque surrounded by shattered glass and debris, while several wounded people were seen in the gardens outside waiting for medical help.
Bombings are rare in Islamabad, which is one of Pakistan’s most heavily secured cities. But the country has seen a resurgence in militant violence over the past few years, with religious minorities and security forces often being targeted.
Shi’ite Muslims, who are a minority in predominantly Sunni Pakistan, have been repeatedly targeted in sectarian attacks. Just last November, a suicide bombing in Islamabad killed 12 people and wounded 27 others. Pakistani authorities later said that attack was carried out by an Afghan national, though no group ever claimed responsibility.
So far, no one has claimed responsibility for Friday’s bombing either. Security across the capital has been stepped up following the attack, and an investigation is underway.
