Ogona Anita
A blast in the capital of Pakistan has left at least 31 worshippers dead and dozens of people injured – Islamabad police suspect the incident was an attack
At least 31 people have tragically died following an explosion at a mosque.
On Friday, authorities confirmed more than 100 people have been injured following the incident in Islamabad, Pakistan. Islamabad police have launched an investigation and said the incident at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque was an attack.
Harrowing images online show officers and local residents transporting the victims to hospital. Emergency services rushed to the scene after the blast happened during Friday prayers. Officials confirmed 169 people were transferred to hospital.
Rescue official Mohamed Amir said some of those injured are in critical condition. The cause of the blast remains unclear. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, and asked authorities to ensure the provision of best medical care to the wounded persons, who were arriving at the city’s different hospitals.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in separate statements and extended condolences to the families of those killed. They instructed that all possible medical assistance be provided for those wounded. “Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” Zardari said.
“The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time.” Sharif said he has ordered a full investigation. “Those who are responsible must be identified and punished,” he said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion, but suspicion is likely to fall on militants such as the Pakistani Taliban or the Islamic State group, which have been blamed for previous attacks on Shiite worshippers, a minority in the country. Militants often target security forces and civilians across Pakistan.
In November, a suicide bomber had struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 people. The latest attack comes nearly a week after the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks in insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, killing about 50 people. Security forces responding to those attacks also killed more than 200 “terrorists,” according to the military.
