At least 31 people have been killed and 169 injured in an explosion at a mosque during Friday prayers in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. According to police, a suicide bomber detonated a device after approaching the gates of the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area of the city. Eyewitnesses described hearing gunfire before the blast. An emergency was declared as hospitals began to receive the injured, prompting calls for blood donations.
Condemning the attack, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and urged a thorough investigation into the incident. In separate statements, President Asif Ali Zardari labeled the targeting of civilians as a crime against humanity, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested foreign involvement from India and Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Taliban government responded, questioning the basis of Asif's claims and condemning the attack while calling it a contradiction to Islamic values.
Witnesses recounted the horrifying moments following the explosion, with reports of fatalities and injuries visible. The incident highlights a concerning trend in violence in the region, as attacks are becoming more frequent amid ongoing conflicts.
Condemning the attack, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and urged a thorough investigation into the incident. In separate statements, President Asif Ali Zardari labeled the targeting of civilians as a crime against humanity, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested foreign involvement from India and Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Taliban government responded, questioning the basis of Asif's claims and condemning the attack while calling it a contradiction to Islamic values.
Witnesses recounted the horrifying moments following the explosion, with reports of fatalities and injuries visible. The incident highlights a concerning trend in violence in the region, as attacks are becoming more frequent amid ongoing conflicts.
