More than 80 injured after attacker strikes during Friday congregational prayers.

At least 15 people were killed and more than 80 injured on Friday after a suicide bomber targeted a mosque in southern Islamabad during Friday prayers, according to local authorities.

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The blast hit the Khadijatul Kubra Imambargah in the Tarlai Kalan neighbourhood at the peak of Jumma prayers, when dozens of worshippers had gathered at the Shia place of worship. Emergency services were immediately deployed, and rescue teams rushed victims to nearby hospitals as police declared a city-wide emergency.

“More than 80 people were injured as a result of the explosion in Islamabad. So far, 15 people have been brought dead to different hospitals,” the Islamabad district administration said in a statement posted on X.

Police confirmed the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated explosives near the mosque’s main entrance, causing heavy casualties among worshippers outside and near the gate. The blast prevented the attacker from entering the main prayer hall but inflicted severe damage in the surrounding area.

Preliminary reports from local authorities and health facilities placed the death toll at 15, with at least 80 people suffering injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to severe burns. Several victims remain in critical condition at medical centres, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Search and rescue operations continued amid concerns that additional casualties could still be trapped under debris.

Eyewitnesses described a powerful explosion followed by panic, smoke, and people fleeing the scene. Forensic teams were deployed to collect evidence while security forces sealed off the area to support ongoing investigations.

Interior Ministry officials said a full probe is under way and announced heightened security measures at religious sites nationwide. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing so far, though investigators are examining possible links to militant networks or local sectarian elements.

The attack comes amid broader security challenges in Pakistan, following a suicide bombing outside an Islamabad district court in November 2025 that killed 15 people and injured dozens.

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