A suicide attack outside a court in Pakistan's capital Islamabad has killed 12 people and injured at least 27 more, the country's interior minister said. Mohsin Naqvi said a bomber was planning to attack the district courthouse - but was unable to get inside. Naqvi stated that authorities would prioritize identifying the bomber, ensuring that those involved would be brought to justice.
Suicide blasts in Islamabad have been rare in recent years. Footage from the scene showed the remains of a burnt-out car and a police cordon in place. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment, according to Naqvi.
The attacker detonated the bomb close to a police car after waiting for up to 15 minutes. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the suicide blast. A lawyer, Rustam Malik, who was parking his car outside the court during the explosion, described it as chaotic, noting that he heard a 'loud bang' and saw dead bodies at the scene.
Suicide blasts in Islamabad have been rare in recent years. Footage from the scene showed the remains of a burnt-out car and a police cordon in place. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment, according to Naqvi.
The attacker detonated the bomb close to a police car after waiting for up to 15 minutes. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the suicide blast. A lawyer, Rustam Malik, who was parking his car outside the court during the explosion, described it as chaotic, noting that he heard a 'loud bang' and saw dead bodies at the scene.
