Bombing rocks Shiite mosque on Islamabad's outskirts, killing a minimum of 31

[ad_1] ISLAMABAD (AP) — A suicide bomber focused a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad throughout Friday prayers, killing 31 folks and wounding a minimum of 169 others, officers mentioned, a uncommon bombing in Pakistan’s capital as its Western-allied authorities struggles to rein in a surge in militant assaults throughout the nation.

Tv footage and social media pictures confirmed police and residents transporting the wounded to close by hospitals. Among the wounded within the assault on the sprawling mosque of Khadija Al-Kubra have been reported to be in essential situation.

Rescuers and witnesses described a harrowing scene, with our bodies and wounded mendacity on the mosque’s carpeted flooring. Hussain Shah mentioned he was praying within the mosque courtyard when he heard a sudden, loud explosion.

“I instantly thought that some huge assault had occurred,” he mentioned. He then went into the mosque to utter chaos — most of the wounded have been screaming and crying out for assist. Shah mentioned he counted round 30 our bodies contained in the mosque, whereas the variety of the wounded gave the impression to be considerably greater.

Nobody instantly claimed accountability for the explosion, however suspicion is prone to fall on militants such because the Pakistani Taliban or the Islamic State group, which has been blamed for previous attacks on Shiite worshippers , a minority within the nation. Militant teams throughout Pakistan typically goal safety forces and civilians.

A surge in militant assaults Although assaults usually are not so frequent in Islamabad, Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence in current months, largely blamed on Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, referred to as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which is a separate group, however allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. A regional affiliate of the Islamic State group has additionally been energetic within the nation.

Within the preliminary aftermath of the explosion, a decrease variety of casualties was launched, however Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon gave the newest tolls.

Pakistan’s Protection Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif wrote on X that preliminary findings recommend the suicide bomber had been on the transfer to and from Afghanistan. Asif mentioned the mosque’s safety guards tried to intercept the suspect, who opened hearth at them after which detonated his explosives among the many worshippers.

The situation of the guards was not instantly identified.

The Afghan Protection Ministry mentioned Afghanistan condemned the mosque assault in Islamabad and mentioned the Pakistani protection minister had “irresponsibly” linked the assault to Afghanistan.

Pakistan typically accuses Afghanistan, the place the Taliban seized energy once more in August 2021 as American and NATO troops have been withdrawing after a 20-year battle, of harboring militants and members of the Pakistani Taliban. Kabul denies the accusation.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs issued an announcement Friday saying that the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan condemns such assaults that violate the sanctity of sacred rituals and mosques and goal worshippers and harmless folks.”

The assault additionally drew condemnation from the worldwide neighborhood, together with the United Sates and European Union. Condolences and condemnation additionally poured in from varied embassies in Islamabad.

Political and spiritual leaders condemn the assault President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prolonged condolences to the households of the victims in sperate statements and requested that each one doable medical help be supplied for these wounded.

“Concentrating on harmless civilians is a criminal offense in opposition to humanity,” Zardari mentioned. “The nation stands with the affected households on this tough time.”

“Those that are accountable have to be recognized and punished,” Sharif mentioned. Pakistan’s Inside Minister Mohsin Naqvi additionally condemned the assault.

Friday’s assault occurred as Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who's on an official two-day go to, was attending an occasion with Sharif. The occasion in Islamabad was a number of miles away from the positioning of the explosion.

A high Shiite chief, Raja Nasir, expressed deep sorrow over the assault at Khadija Al-Kubra.

“Such a terrorist act within the federal capital isn't solely a severe failure in defending human lives but additionally raises important questions concerning the efficiency of the authorities and regulation enforcement businesses,” he mentioned and requested for folks to offer blood because the hospitals in Islamabad have been in pressing want for blood provides for the wounded.

It was the deadliest assault in Islamabad since 2008 when a suicide bombing focused the Marriott Resort within the capital, killing 63 folks and wounding over 250 others. In November, a suicide bomber had struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 folks.

The most recent assault got here practically per week after the outlawed Baloch Liberation Military carried out a number of assaults in insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, killing about 50 folks.

Safety forces responding to these assaults additionally killed greater than 200 “terrorists,” based on the army.

Hours after the Islamabad bombing, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif mentioned on X that she had canceled her occasions on the music and kite-flying pageant within the metropolis of Lahore for Saturday. The pageant, which obtained underway on Friday, was nonetheless anticipated to proceed.

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Related Press writers Babar Dogar in Lahore and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, and Abdul Qahar Afghan in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this story.

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