At least 31 people were killed when an explosion rocked a mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai district on February 6.
Mosque Attack in Islamabad
An explosion occurred on Friday, February 6, at a mosque in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s Defense Minister, an unidentified man “opened fire and then detonated explosives in the last row.” The mosque supervisor, Syed Ashfaq, upon arriving at the scene, stated that “bodies were everywhere.” The most seriously injured were transported to hospitals in private vehicles.
Casualty Figures and Response
The Deputy Commissioner’s office reported at least 31 deaths, while Ummat News reported 169 injured. Police and a bomb disposal unit were immediately dispatched to the scene and cordoned off the mosque area.
Allegations of Involvement
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja M. Asif accused those responsible of being “enemies of both religion and country.” He claimed that the terrorist involved in the attack had been in Afghanistan and that connections between India and the Taliban were being investigated, though he provided no evidence for these allegations.
Official Response and Investigation
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack as a “crime against humanity,” noting that innocent citizens were targeted during prayers. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the attack, expressed deep sorrow over the fatalities, and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He ordered a full investigation and immediate identification of those responsible, while also directing the Health Minister to personally oversee medical care for the injured.