At least 12 killed, 20 wounded in Islamabad blast

Islamabad: At least 12 were killed and 20 others were injured on Tuesday in a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court building in Islamabad’s G-11 area.

As per the report, the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. The site was cordoned off as authorities started an investigation.

“We are probing what kind of blast it was. It is not clear yet. We will be able to provide more details after we get a report from our forensic team,” a policeman told Reuters.

Later, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the bomber tried to enter the court building on foot, but detonated the device outside, close to a police vehicle, after waiting there for 10 to 15 minutes.

“We are investigating this incident from different angles. It is not just another bombing. It happened right in Islamabad,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari termed the incident a “suicide blast”.

At least twelve people were martyred and twenty-seven others injured in a suicide blast outside the Islamabad Courts in G-11 Sector today.  

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who visited the blast site shortly after the incident, confirmed the casualties and said emergency operations were underway to assist the injured.

He said the attacker initially planned to enter the court complex but couldn't due to strict security checks and when a police vehicle arrived, he targeted it i

The Minister said efforts were underway to identify the attacker, vowing results within hours.

Talking about the yesterday's incident in Wana, he said the vehicle-borne suicide attacker carried out the blast at the entry point of Cadet College.

The Interior Minister said that the attacker in Wana has been identified as Afghan national. He said Afghanistan is found directly involved in the incident due to the communication of perpetrators that was carried out with people in Afghanistan.

Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan has provided complete proof of the attacks and perpetrators as well, but Afghan authorities have not taken any measures. He said Pakistan is justified to take appropriate measures and stop the attacks in every way possible.