A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the District Judicial Complex in Islamabad on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens during one of the court’s busiest hours, Pakistan’s interior minister said.
The blast struck at about 12:30 p.m. local time near the main entrance used by litigants and lawyers, sending a cloud of smoke over the Srinagar Highway and sparking panic as people fled the scene. Emergency services and police sealed off the area and rushed victims to nearby hospitals. Officials put the number of wounded in the mid-20s to mid-30s range.
Witnesses said the attacker initially tried to breach the court premises but failing to get inside, detonated the device beside a police vehicle near the gate. The explosion was heard for kilometres and shattered windows in nearby buildings.
A breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, later claimed responsibility for the attack according to several reports, although militant responsibility and claims have been inconsistent in the immediate aftermath.
Top government figures responded forcefully. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials accused “India-backed elements and Afghan Taliban proxies” of orchestrating the attack — allegations that were made publicly by Pakistani leaders even as investigators said they were probing all leads. The comments come amid heightened tensions along Pakistan’s border and a recent rise in militant activity across the country.
The bombing occurred hours after a separate militant assault on an army-run college in the country’s west, an incident security forces said they were responding to developments that have prompted some Pakistani ministers to warn of a worsening security environment. International governments and rights groups condemned the attacks and urged restraint while calling for a full, transparent investigation.
Investigators on site collected forensic evidence while law enforcement increased security around key installations in the capital. Officials said further details, including an exact casualty count and the bomber’s identity, would be released as the inquiry progresses.
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