Terrorist attack in a mosque in Pakistan, over 30 people killed
At least 31 people were killed and at least 169 others were injured in a terrorist attack on a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The explosion occurred during Friday prayers when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, reports Euronews.
Photo: AP Photo/M.A Sheikh
According to Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, mosque security tried to detain the suspect, but he opened fire and then blew himself up. The official also stated that the attacker frequently traveled between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The death toll may rise, as some of the injured are in critical condition. Video footage shows police and local residents transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, among the possible culprits named are the Pakistani Taliban and the local branch of the "Islamic State" group, which have previously carried out attacks on Shiite worshippers, who are a minority in the country.
Recently, Pakistan has seen an increase in extremist violence, mainly linked to Baloch separatists and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan movement. In addition, the regional structure of the "Islamic State" is actively operating in the country. Although such attacks are less frequent in Islamabad, high-profile terrorist attacks have occurred there before.
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it a crime against humanity, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. They instructed that all necessary medical assistance be provided to the injured and a full investigation be conducted.
Shiite leader Raja Nasir also condemned the attack, stating that such a terrorist act in the capital indicates serious problems in the security system. He called on citizens to donate blood, as Islamabad hospitals are severely lacking in donor supplies.
The largest terrorist attack in Islamabad before this occurred in 2008, when an explosion at the Marriott Hotel claimed the lives of 63 people. In November 2025, a suicide bomber detonated himself near a courthouse, killing 12 people.