31 killed in Pakistan suicide bomb blast

At least 31 people were killed and dozens others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside an imambargah during Friday prayers in Tarlai area of Pakistan’s Islamabad, confirmed officials.

The explosion occurred at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra.

The suicide bomber detonated himself after being stopped at the entrance of the mosque, eyewitnesses told Geo News, adding that the terrorists first opened fired and then resorted to the bombing.

The eyewitnesses further said that the main door is at least 30 metres away from the imambargah’s gate, adding that when the terrorist reached the main gate, guards tried to stop him, following which an exchange of fire took place.

“He then ran inside at least 20 metres, and as the prayer was underway, he blew himself up,” the eyewitnesses told Geo News.

Following the tragic incident, rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the hospitals. Law enforcement agencies — including Pakistan Army troops and Rangers — cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident.

Due to the pressure on facilities in the capital, the injured are also being shifted to hospitals in other parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said that an emergency has been imposed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic Hospital and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) hospital.

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) administration said that at least 18 bodies were brought to the hospital, while more than 78 injured were also received.

Authorities at Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Hospital said four injured were brought to the hospital, where one of them later died during treatment.

Source: Geo News