Islamabad suicide bombing: Death toll climbs to 36, nearly 170 injured
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Islamabad: The death toll from Friday’s suicide bombing at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area has risen to 36, local media reported on Saturday, citing officials from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Nearly 170 people were injured in the attack during Friday prayers.
“A 21-year-old man, brought from the imambargah, succumbed to his injuries,” said Dr Aneeza Jalil, speaking to Dawn. She added that nine of the injured are in “very serious” condition. In total, 149 injured people and 28 bodies were brought to PIMS on Friday. HBS Hospital also confirmed three deaths from the attack, according to Dawn.
Authorities have identified the suspected attacker as Yasir Khan Yasir, a resident of Peshawar who reportedly underwent militant training in Afghanistan. Preliminary investigations suggest Yasir stayed in Afghanistan for nearly five months before returning to Pakistan. Sources told The Express Tribune that he received training at the Mansoor Istashhadi training centre in Kunar province and travelled across the border multiple times.
Officials are probing possible links between Yasir and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), though authorities stressed that the investigation is at an early stage. Yasir is believed to have been influenced by the Salafi school of thought. Authorities are also working to identify any broader network that may have facilitated the attack, including handlers and logistical supporters.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber, based on forensic analysis of his remains. “He is not an Afghan citizen, but forensic examination has provided information about how many times he travelled to Afghanistan,” he said.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire moments before the explosion, after which the bomber detonated explosives amid a large congregation of worshippers. Hospitals across Islamabad declared emergency protocols as rescue teams rushed the injured to medical facilities.
While Pakistani authorities have pointed to external influences, the country continues to grapple with the devastating impact of homegrown terrorism.
With IANS inputs