Islamabad, Feb 6 (NVI) At least 31 Muslim worshippers were killed and more than 170 were injured today in a massive explosion caused by a suicide bomber at a Shia mosque here, marking one of the worst attacks targeting the minority community in recent years in Pakistan.
The powerful blast at Khadijatul Kubra mosque-cum-Imambara in the Tarli area of Islamabad took place at the time of Friday prayers, according to eyewitnesses.
The suicide bomber detonated explosives attached to his body at the gate of the mosque when he was stopped there, the eyewitnesses and police said.
TV footage showed several bodies lying around the premises along with pieces of glass and debris.
Hours after the explosion, Islamabad district administration posted on X that at least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured in the incident.
The death toll is likely to rise as several injured are stated to be in critical condition.
Emergency was declared in the hospitals of Islamabad as rescuers continued to bring in the injured people.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was sought to be blamed by the authorities, issued a statement tonight, saying it was not involved in the explosion as its “targets are clear and well defined — Pakistan’s security institutions and their collaborators”.
The attack came less than three months after a suicide bomber killed 12 people in a blast outside a district and sessions court building in Islamabad.
The massive explosion took place at a time when Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in the town, on a State visit since yesterday. (NVI)
