'Suicide' car explosion martyrs policeman in Islamabad

Islamabad: One police officer has been martyred while three others sustained injuries on Friday morning after an explosion rocked Islamabad's I-10/4 sector, GNN reported. 

According to details, the car exploded while police officials were conducting snap-checking at the checkpoint and stopped a 'suspicious' taxi for inspection near street 31of industrial Sector I-10, prompting a temporary shutdown of the area.

Islamabad Police, in a statement, said that the car was stopped at a checkpoint. The vehicle didn't stop and went off as police flagged it for checking. 

Rescue teams and bomb disposal squad reached the spot after getting information and cordoned off the area. A special anti-terror force also rushed to the spot.

The deceased and injured have been transported to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Islamabad Police, in a statement, said "The security was on high alert and (snap) checking was in progress when a suspicious car exploded as the police attempted to stop it".

While addressing the media, the DIG Chattha said the suicide bomber detonated himself when members of the Eagle Squad stopped his car, adding that "a woman and a man were in the taxi when the explosion occurred".

The Islamabad Police said that a major terror attack has been averted.   

The martyred police officer has been identified as Head Constable Adeel Hussain. 

خود کش دھماکے میں ہیڈ کانسٹیبل عدیل حسین درجہ شہادت پر فائز ہوگئے۔

اسلام آباد کیپیٹل پولیس کی بروقت کارروائی سے شہر دہشتگردی کے بڑے حملے سے محفوظ رہے۔

شھداء اور زخمی جوانوں کو قوم کا سلام۔ pic.twitter.com/EbPkkPPQn1

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 23, 2022

Notably, the explosion hit Islamabad’s upscale area with hospitals, I-10 police station, universities and industrial sectors nearby. 

Video footage of the incident's aftermath shows thick black smoke spewing from the blazing wreckage of the vehicle with a heavy contingent of law enforcement personnel at the site. 

In a tweet, the Islamabad police said: “A suicide bomber detonated himself soon after the car stopped near the officers".

آئی ٹین فور میں خود کش دھماکے کا معاملہ۔ pic.twitter.com/8sx4DfEZyJ

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 23, 2022

In another tweet, the police said that diversions had been placed for both sides of traffic at Service Road East of Sector I-10/4.

In the meantime, authorities have urged citizens to use Service Road West of Sector I-10/4 as an alternate route.