At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured in a devastating suicide bombing at a Shi’ite mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, officials confirmed on Friday. The explosion occurred during midday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area, one of the busiest times of the week when worshippers gather for Friday prayers.
Police and government sources reported that the attack began with gunfire near the mosque entrance before a suicide bomber detonated explosives close to worshippers, causing widespread carnage inside the building and its courtyard. Security forces and rescue teams quickly responded, sealing off the area and transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with injured worshippers and debris scattered throughout the mosque as rescue workers struggled to reach victims amid heavy smoke and destruction.
Officials confirmed that dozens of the injured are in critical condition, and authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as hospitals continue to treat the wounded. Emergency teams from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and other facilities were mobilized to care for victims, and a state of emergency was declared in major hospitals in the region. Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner, Irfan Memon, stated that the blast occurred around midday on Friday, resulting in high casualties due to the timing during congregational prayers.
The Islamic State group’s Pakistan affiliate has claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying Shi’ite Muslims as targets in its propaganda channels. Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, condemned the attack as a heinous act of terrorism and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. They pledged support for victims’ families and called for national unity in the face of extremism.
In the aftermath, Pakistan’s Defence Minister suggested possible external involvement in the attack, alleging connections to militants trained abroad, a claim firmly rejected by India’s foreign ministry, which called the allegations “baseless” and urged Islamabad to focus on internal security.
The bombing marks one of the deadliest attacks in Islamabad in recent years and has heightened concerns about rising militant activity and sectarian violence in Pakistan’s urban centers. Security has been tightened across the federal capital, and authorities are investigating to identify accomplices and prevent further attacks. A large public mourning and funeral processions took place on Saturday under tight security, with thousands of residents and officials paying respects to the victims.
English