A suicide bombing outside a courthouse in Islamabad, Pakistan, has claimed the lives of 12 people and left at least 27 others injured, according to the country’s interior minister.
Mohsin Naqvi said the attacker had intended to enter the district courthouse but was unable to do so.
He added that authorities would make identifying the bomber a top priority and ensure that those responsible face justice.
Such attacks have been rare in the Pakistani capital in recent years. Footage from the scene on Tuesday showed a burnt-out vehicle and police securing the area.
The injured, 27 in total, are currently receiving medical attention, Naqvi confirmed.
The minister also revealed that the attacker waited for up to 15 minutes before detonating the bomb near a police car.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, saying he “strongly condemned the suicide blast”.
A lawyer who was parking outside the courthouse at the time recounted the chaos. Rustam Malik told AFP, “it was complete chaos.”
“Lawyers and people were running inside the complex,” he continued. “I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire.”
