Four people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating a suicide bombing that killed more than 30 people on Friday, Pakistan's interior minister has said. Mohsin Naqvi stated that an Afghan national who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack was among those detained. The raid resulted in the death of one counter-terrorism officer and injuries to three others.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bombing that targeted Friday prayers at the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area, which was packed with worshippers at the time. More than 160 people were injured in the blast, marking the deadliest attack in the capital for over a decade.
In the wake of the tragedy, funerals for the 32 victims took place amid enhanced security in Islamabad, with military personnel deployed to maintain order. Ashiq Hussain, who lost his 21-year-old nephew Mujtaba Ali in the explosion, described his family as 'broken.'
Condemnations of the attack have poured in from national leaders, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing 'deep grief' and President Asif Ali Zardari condemning the targeting of innocent civilians as a 'crime against humanity.' Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos and devastation in the moments following the explosion.
Interior Minister Naqvi has made accusations against India for allegedly funding the perpetrators of the attack, allegations that India has labeled as 'baseless.' Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested Afghanistan may have had a connection to the attack, a claim the Afghan Taliban government deemed 'regrettable.'
As security concerns rise, authorities are planning to recruit thousands of new police officers and implement advanced security measures throughout Islamabad. Despite being relatively rare, such attacks have increased in frequency, with previous incidents resulting in multiple casualties in geopolitically tense regions like Balochistan.}
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bombing that targeted Friday prayers at the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area, which was packed with worshippers at the time. More than 160 people were injured in the blast, marking the deadliest attack in the capital for over a decade.
In the wake of the tragedy, funerals for the 32 victims took place amid enhanced security in Islamabad, with military personnel deployed to maintain order. Ashiq Hussain, who lost his 21-year-old nephew Mujtaba Ali in the explosion, described his family as 'broken.'
Condemnations of the attack have poured in from national leaders, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing 'deep grief' and President Asif Ali Zardari condemning the targeting of innocent civilians as a 'crime against humanity.' Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos and devastation in the moments following the explosion.
Interior Minister Naqvi has made accusations against India for allegedly funding the perpetrators of the attack, allegations that India has labeled as 'baseless.' Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested Afghanistan may have had a connection to the attack, a claim the Afghan Taliban government deemed 'regrettable.'
As security concerns rise, authorities are planning to recruit thousands of new police officers and implement advanced security measures throughout Islamabad. Despite being relatively rare, such attacks have increased in frequency, with previous incidents resulting in multiple casualties in geopolitically tense regions like Balochistan.}
