Suicide Bomb Blast Kills Dozens During Friday Prayers

A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and injured 169 at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. The blast happened just after Friday prayers, when the building was full of worshippers.

Witnesses said the scene inside the mosque was chaotic. Glass and debris covered the floor. Many worshippers lay injured as others called out for help.

People rushed to move victims outside. Some were carried into ambulances. Others were taken to hospitals in private cars. At least one person arrived in the trunk of a vehicle because so many people needed urgent care.

Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences worked quickly as injured adults and children arrived one after another. Families crowded the hallways. Many searched for missing relatives.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon later confirmed the rising toll. He said 31 people had died and 169 were hurt.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed deep grief. President Asif Ali Zardari also released a statement. He called the bombing a crime against humanity and urged hospitals to provide full care to the wounded.

No group has claimed responsibility. However, militant outfits have attacked Shiite mosques in the past. Bombings in Islamabad are rare, but Pakistan has faced increasing violence in recent years.

The explosion comes a week after deadly attacks in Balochistan that killed about 50 people. Security forces said they later killed more than 200 suspected militants.

An investigation into the mosque attack is underway. Officials are now working to determine how the bomber reached the gate and what led to the security breach.