A suicide bomber killed at least 12 people and injured several others outside a district court in Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said. The attack, one of the deadliest in the city in recent years, has raised fresh concerns over the resurgence of militant violence in urban centers.
The explosion occurred near the main entrance of Islamabad’s district court, a busy area crowded with lawyers, litigants, and police officers. Witnesses said the attacker arrived on foot and waited for about 10 to 15 minutes before detonating his explosives near a police vehicle.
Interior Minister Naqvi, speaking at the site, said, “We are investigating this incident from different angles. It is not just another bombing. It happened right in Islamabad.”
Casualties and Response
Hospital officials confirmed that several of the wounded were in critical condition, and emergency teams rushed victims to nearby facilities. Footage circulating on local media showed people covered in blood lying beside a damaged police van, as sirens wailed and security forces cordoned off the area.
Authorities have stepped up security across the capital, with additional checkpoints set up near government buildings and judicial complexes.
What’s Next
Islamabad has largely been spared the kind of large-scale militant attacks that have plagued parts of northwestern Pakistan in recent years. However, the incident comes amid a rise in militant activity linked to groups operating along the Afghan border, raising fears of renewed instability.
Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and collecting forensic evidence to identify the attacker and determine which group may be behind the blast. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
With information from Reuters.
