A powerful explosion tore through a judicial complex in Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon, leaving 12 people dead and 27 injured in what officials described as a suicide car bombing. The blast, which occurred around 12:39 pm local time, shook nearby neighbourhoods and sent shockwaves across the city.

The Attack and Chaos That Followed

According to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the attacker arrived on foot and attempted to enter the court premises. After waiting near a police vehicle for nearly 10 to 15 minutes, the bomber detonated the explosives.

The explosion damaged multiple vehicles and shattered windows across the area. Eyewitness visuals showed lawyers in black coats and white shirts, visibly shaken, many with blood-stained clothes, sitting helplessly on the road outside the debris-strewn court complex.

Ongoing Investigation and Wider Security Concerns

No militant group has yet claimed responsibility, but authorities suspect involvement of extremist elements. The incident comes amid a resurgence of militant activity across Pakistan, particularly linked to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP).

Just a day earlier, security forces thwarted an attempted hostage situation at an army-run college in the country’s northwest, killing several militants.

Rising Regional Tensions

The attack also unfolded against the backdrop of escalating Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions, following deadly cross-border skirmishes last month. Despite a ceasefire brokered by Qatar, the situation remains volatile.