Islamic State Affiliate Claims Suicide Bombing That Killed 31 in Pakistan Capital
IS affiliate says attacker breached mosque gates and detonated a vest, killing 31 and wounding 169 during Friday prayers in Islamabad, officials said.
ABC NewsIslamic State affiliate claims suicide bombing that killed 31 in Pakistani capital
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Overview
Islamic State in Pakistan claimed responsibility in a statement on Amaq News Agency saying the attacker shot security guards at the main gate and detonated his explosive vest at the mosque’s inner gate, killing 31 and wounding 169, officials said.
The bombing struck the Khadija Al-Kubra Imambargah in Tarlai Kalan during Friday prayers, making it the deadliest attack in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott bombing and highlighting a nationwide surge in militant violence, according to Pakistani officials.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a full investigation and vowed the perpetrators would be brought to justice, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed that the wounded receive the best medical care, officials confirmed.
Authorities arrested the bomber’s brother, mother and other relatives in overnight raids in Islamabad and northwestern Pakistan and said a police officer was killed during one raid, officials said.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry condemned the attack but disputed links to Afghan soil after Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said the attacker had recently travelled to Afghanistan, marking a point of contention between Kabul and Islamabad.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the attack as part of a widening militant-security crisis, prioritizing Islamic State culpability and cross‑border links. Editorial choices include leading with the IS claim, emphasizing officials' Afghanistan link and arrests, and highlighting funerals/casualty imagery. Direct extremist phrases (e.g., "human reservoir") are source content, not editorial phrasing.
FAQ
The Islamic State (ISKP) affiliate claimed responsibility via a statement on Amaq News Agency, stating the attacker shot security guards and detonated an explosive vest inside the mosque.
The suicide bombing killed at least 31 people and wounded 169 others during Friday prayers at the Khadija Al-Kubra Imambargah.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a full investigation and vowed justice; authorities arrested the bomber’s brother, mother, and relatives in raids, during which a police officer was killed.
It is the deadliest attack in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing that killed 63, amid a nationwide surge in militant violence.
Pakistan's Defense Minister claimed the attacker recently traveled to Afghanistan, but Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry condemned the attack and disputed any links to Afghan soil.
