Pakistan: 12 killed, over 20 injured in suicide bombing near Islamabad court

At least 12 people were killed and around two dozen others were injured in a suicide bombing outside the Islamabad judicial complex, according to reports in Pakistani media.

Initial investigations indicate that the attacker set off the explosive vest near the main entrance when the area was most crowded.

The blast occurred around 12:30 pm, during peak business hours, creating panic among lawyers and staff at the court complex. The impact was powerful enough to be heard several kilometres away, damaging several nearby vehicles. Most of the injured are believed to be lawyers and court employees.

The incident came just hours after Pakistani security forces claimed to have foiled an attack by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) at Cadet College Wana in south Waziristan, as per Pakistani media reports.

"As I parked my car and entered the complex... I heard a loud bang on the gate," lawyer Rustam Malik said after the blast, which sent people fleeing and damaged vehicles in the area.

"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," said Malik, one of the witnesses who spoke to AFP.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the site of the blast and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“At 12:39 pm, a suicide attack was carried out at the Kachehri (district courts)… so far 12 people have been martyred and around 27 are wounded," Naqvi said.