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Deadly explosion rocks Shia mosque in Pakistan's capital
At least 31 people were killed and 169 injured when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a Shia mosque in Islamabad during Friday prayers, officials confirmed.
Attack details emerge from eyewitnesses
Survivors and local residents reported hearing gunfire moments before the blast. Zaheer Abbas, who was inside the Khadijatul Kubra Mosque, described the chaos: "We bowed and then prostrated, and then there was an explosion. Injured people were lying everywhere."
The mosque's caretaker, Syed Ashfaq, who lives nearby, rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots. "Bodies were lying everywhere, some missing arms, some missing legs," he told the BBC. He helped transport the most severely injured to hospital in his own vehicle.
Emergency response and political reactions
Hospitals in Islamabad declared an emergency and issued urgent appeals for blood donations as casualties flooded in. Images from local medical facilities showed victims arriving in private cars and ambulances.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a social media statement, expressing "deep grief" and calling for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible. President Asif Ali Zardari labeled the attack "a crime against humanity."
Casualties and investigation
Islamabad's deputy commissioner, Irfan Memon, confirmed the death toll at 31 with 169 injured. The explosion left the mosque in ruins, with footwear, shattered glass, and debris scattered across the prayer hall.
While attacks in the capital are relatively rare, this incident follows a deadly bombing outside a courthouse in November that killed 12 people and injured 27.
Broader context of violence in Pakistan
The attack comes amid a surge in violence across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan province, where coordinated attacks last week killed 58 civilians. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for those attacks.
According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 2025 was the deadliest year in over a decade, with combat-related deaths rising 74%. The report noted that 3,413 people were killed, including 2,138 militants.
