Suicide Blast at Islamabad Imambargah During Friday Prayers Kills 31, Injures 169
Irfan Ali
Islamabad:
At least 31 people were killed and 169 injured in a suicide bombing at the Khadijat-ul-Kubra Imambargah in Islamabad’s Tralai area during Friday prayers, according to police and hospital officials. Following the attack, an emergency was declared across the federal capital.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion occurred when worshippers were in prostration during the first unit of prayer. The blast was so powerful that panic spread instantly, filling the imambargah with smoke and screams.
Zahid Ali, who was injured in the blast, told the BBC that prayers had begun at 1pm and he was standing in the back row.
“I lost consciousness after the explosion and regained awareness later. Fortunately, my injuries are not critical,” he said.
His cousin Jawad Khan said the two had arrived together but were delayed due to ablution.
“When I returned, people were already in prostration. I then saw a suicide bomber open fire on the security guard at the main gate, enter the premises and blow himself up,” he said, adding that additional gunfire was also heard.
Another eyewitness, Haider Abbas Rizvi, said two armed men carrying sophisticated weapons opened fire on security personnel at the main entrance.
“Two guards were shot and fell, while a third retaliated. One attacker fled, but the other continued firing,” he said.
According to Rizvi, the attacker entered the imambargah and, after being hit by gunfire, fell to the ground before detonating himself.
“At that time, many people were heading towards the mosque. Had the attacker reached inside the prayer hall, the casualties would have been far greater,” he added.
Eyewitness Raza Jafar told the BBC that six security personnel are usually deployed at the main gate during prayer times—three assigned to body searches and three armed guards.
“This imambargah was also targeted by militants a few years ago, but timely action back then prevented casualties,” he said.
Describing the aftermath, Rizvi said dozens of bodies and severed limbs were scattered at the site, with fragments of flesh stuck to walls and the ceiling.
“People rushed to help on their own and transported the injured and the dead to nearby hospitals,” he said.
Another injured worshipper, Zaheer Abbas, said he heard two gunshots during the first unit of prayer.
“We went into prostration and suddenly there was a massive explosion. Injured people were everywhere, and I lost my senses,” he said, adding that police and rescue teams later evacuated him to hospital. He said the sound of the blast was so intense that it continues to affect him.
Location and Security Response
The Khadijat-ul-Kubra Imambargah is located near COMSATS University and other educational institutions, around 12 to 15 kilometers from Islamabad’s Red Zone.
After the attack, police and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area, while forensic teams collected evidence from the site. Rangers and army personnel also arrived, with police tasked to clear civilians from the vicinity.
Eyewitnesses said that despite one of the two attackers fleeing, some people remained at the scene, prompting repeated police requests to evacuate. Authorities have imposed checkpoints across multiple parts of the city in search of the second suspected attacker, while investigations continue.
