TNI Bureau: At least 69 people were killed and 169 injured after a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the Tarlai Imambargah shrine in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area on Sunday afternoon, according to Pakistani media reports.
The bomber reportedly blew himself up at the main gate of the Shia place of worship. Following the blast, the Islamabad Inspector General of Police declared a city-wide emergency, and rescue and law enforcement teams rushed to the scene.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act,” and said such terrorism would not weaken the nation’s resolve for peace and stability.
Eyewitness Hussain Shah said he was praying in the courtyard when he heard a loud explosion and later saw chaos inside, with bodies and wounded lying on the mosque floor. He said he counted around 30 bodies, while many more were injured.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, suspicion is likely to fall on militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban or the Islamic State group, which have previously targeted Shiite worshippers in Pakistan.
