Thousands of mourners gathered in Islamabad for a mass funeral after a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque killed at least 31 people and wounded about 170. The attack, claimed by a regional Islamic State affiliate, has raised fears of renewed sectarian violence in the capital.
Tens of thousands attended open-air prayers near the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah on the city outskirts, where many openly wept and beat their chests in traditional Shiite mourning. Around 20 coffins were carried for burial, and separate prayers were held in Dera Ismail Khan for two other victims. Shops closed, streets were largely empty and unions called for protests across the city.
Relatives described deep grief and anger. Bushra Rahmani, whose brother was wounded, said, “What happened yesterday has left us extremely angry and deeply hurt.” Ashiq Hussain, mourning his 21-year-old nephew, said, “Our family is broken. What sin did this young man commit?” Security was tightened across Islamabad, with checkpoints on major roads and elite commandos posted at key sites amid fears of further attacks.
Local officials said the bombing took place during Friday prayers. According to regional administration chief Irfan Memon, a suicide attacker opened fire on guards at the mosque’s main gate before detonating an explosive vest at the inner entrance. Witnesses reported an exchange of gunfire with volunteer security personnel followed by a large explosion. Unverified videos circulated on social media showed bodies at the mosque entrance and the wounded, including children, being loaded into ambulances.
Islamic State in Pakistan, the regional IS affiliate, claimed responsibility in posts on Telegram and Amaq News Agency, calling the victims “infidels” and accusing them of providing recruits to rival Shiite militias fighting IS in Syria. Shiites make up roughly 10 to 15 percent of Pakistan’s mostly Sunni population of about 241 million and have long been targeted by groups such as IS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Authorities launched overnight raids in Peshawar, Nowshera and elsewhere in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, arresting several suspects, including members of the bomber’s family, security sources said. One militant and at least two law enforcement officers were killed during those operations, and three officers were wounded. State media reported detaining an alleged Afghan IS planner and said the plot originated in Afghanistan. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said four people accused of assisting the bomber had been arrested.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to bring those responsible to justice and thanked international leaders, noting condolences from the United States, Russia and the European Union. The attack is the deadliest in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott hotel bombing and follows other recent deadly incidents, including a November suicide blast outside a court that killed 12.
Officials and analysts say Pakistan has seen a rise in militant violence since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The bombing comes amid wider security challenges, including recent coordinated assaults by a separatist group in Balochistan that left dozens of civilians and security forces dead and subsequent operations that authorities say killed nearly 200 militants.
