At Least 12 Killed in an Explosion in Islamabad’s G-11 Judicial Complex
PAKISTAN – At least 12 people were killed and 21 others injured on Tuesday afternoon after an explosion near the Islamabad’s G-11 Judicial Complex.
Security sources said that the bodies of 12 victims had been taken to a local hospital, and 21 others were transferred for emergency treatment.
According to local reports, the blast was a suicide attack aimed at the courthouse but the attacker wasn’t able to enter, prompting to the detonation of explosives near a police vehicle.
The explosion reportedly took place in a parked vehicle on the service road near the courthouse gate.
The injured were transported to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital for medical attention.
What Authorities are Saying
Both the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and President Asif Ali Zardari termed the explosion as a suicide blast, echoing the police suggestion offered earlier of a possible suicide bomber.
The Pakistan president expressed his condolences to the bereaved families saying that he “strongly condemned the suicide blast near Islamabad District Judicial Complex, expressed deep condolences with the bereaved families, prayed for early recovery of the injured, and paid tribute to law enforcement agencies” through the American social media X.
The Defense Minister also shared his opinions on the same platform, giving a suggestion like Pakistan believed the explosion had links to Afghanistan.
“We are in a state of war. Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan Army is fighting this war in the Afghan-Pakistan border region and the remote areas of Balochistan, today’s suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts is a wake-up call,” he said.
He added that “in this environment, it would be futile to hold out greater hope for successful negotiations with the rulers of Kabul.”
Earlier Reports
The emergency services including Rescue 1122, ambulances, and police vehicles responded to the scene to attend to the injured, and later transported them to hospital.
Preliminary reports indicated that the explosion occurred in a car parked in the court house’s parking, resulting to fire.
The judicial court have been evacuated.
The explosion comes just hours after another car explosion in Delhi’s Red Fort killed at least 12 people and left several others injured.
Other Reports
Separately, security forces were engaged in an operation against three militants hiding inside a building at Wana Cadet College in northwestern Pakistan, security sources said.
About 500 cadets are housed in a hostel on the campus, located away from the building where the militants are holed up in South Waziristan, according to the sources.
3 security personnel had been killed in the operation so far.
