A suicide bombing near a courthouse in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 12 people and wounded at least 27 others, according to the country’s interior minister.
“Mohsin Naqvi said a bomber was planning to attack the district courthouse – but was unable to get inside.”
Authorities have pledged to focus on identifying the perpetrator and ensuring that all those responsible face justice.
Suicide bombings have been uncommon in Islamabad in recent years. Footage captured on Tuesday showed a burnt-out car and a secured police perimeter around the site.
The 27 injured victims are receiving medical care, Naqvi said.
He noted that the attacker had waited for around 15 minutes before detonating the explosive near a police vehicle.
Videos from the scene showed thick smoke rising from a charred car behind security barriers. The blast occurred at 12:39 local time (07:39 GMT).
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed that he “strongly condemned the suicide blast.”
A lawyer, who was parking outside the court at the time, recounted hearing a “loud bang.”
Rustam Malik described the scene as “complete chaos.”
“Lawyers and people were running inside the complex,” he said. “I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire.”
The last suicide bombing in the capital occurred three years ago, resulting in the death of a police officer and injuries to several others.
While suicide attacks have taken place elsewhere in the country since then, Islamabad had largely been spared.
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