Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Islamabad, November 12 (Xinhua) — At least 12 people were killed in a suicide bombing near the District Court Complex here on Tuesday, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said.
"The incident occurred at 12:39 local time /07:39 GMT/ when the attacker attempted to enter the court complex to commit mass murder, but after failing to gain entry, he detonated an explosive device outside the building," he said on Tuesday.
The minister said preliminary reports indicate a possible link between the blast and a recent attack in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"We link this explosion to many things, and we will have complete clarity in the coming hours or days… Identifying the attacker is our top priority. Whoever was behind this, locals or foreigners, no one will escape punishment," Naqvi noted.
The banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, threatening to carry out more such attacks in the future.
Police and emergency services reported that the explosion damaged nearby cars and caused panic among passersby. Forensic experts collected evidence at the scene, including the remains of the suspected bomber.
At least 38 people were injured in the attack and taken to two hospitals in the capital, according to patient records seen by Xinhua at the medical facilities.
Several police officers were among the wounded, and a lawyer was among the dead, police sources told Xinhua.
The Islamabad Bar Council condemned the attack, calling a three-day strike and calling for increased security measures to protect the legal community and citizens.
The country's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, calling it "a cowardly act of terrorism orchestrated by terrorist networks."
Both leaders expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and instructed authorities to conduct a prompt investigation and strengthen security measures in the capital.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.