Pakistan: 12 killed in Islamabad court blast, a day after Red Fort explosion in Delhi
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, though local media reports have hinted at a possible gas cylinder blast inside a vehicle
PTC Web Desk: At least 12 persons lost their lives and several others were injured after a powerful blast rocked the premises outside a local court in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday afternoon. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, though local media reports have hinted at a possible gas cylinder blast inside a vehicle. The police, however, have not issued an official statement on the cause.
The explosion caused extensive damage to several vehicles parked near the court. Most of the injured were people who had come to attend hearings, as the area outside the court is typically crowded during the day. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic following the explosion.
Lawyer Rustam Malik, who was present at the site, was reported as saying by agency AFP, “It was complete chaos, lawyers and people were running inside the complex. I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire.”
The Islamabad blast comes barely a day after Pakistani security forces foiled an attack on an army-run college in Wana city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. Ssix militants, including a suicide car bomber, from the Pakistani Taliban targeted the institution in an attempt to take cadets hostage.
Authorities confirmed that two militants were killed by troops, while three others who entered the compound were later cornered. “All cadets, instructors, and staff remained safe,” said local police chief Alamgir Mahsud. The attack left 16 civilians and several troops injured, while nearby houses suffered damage from the blast.
In a concerning coincidence, a similar explosion was reported near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday, involving a parked Hyundai i20 car. At least 12 persons were killed in the incident, which is being probed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act.
The main suspect, identified as Dr. Umar Un Nabi from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, was reportedly driving the vehicle that exploded near a red light.