ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: A suicide attack outside the district and sessions courts in Islamabad’s G-11 sector on Tuesday killed 12 people and injured 36 others, including police personnel and women, marking the first major terror incident in the capital in nearly three years.
According to police, a lone suicide bomber detonated explosives at the main entrance of the judicial complex after failing in repeated attempts to enter the building. The explosion, which set several vehicles on fire, occurred around 12:39pm when hundreds of litigants and lawyers were present inside the premises.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the casualties, vowing that the perpetrators and their masterminds “will bear the consequences.” He said investigators were examining a possible Afghan connection, with evidence suggesting the attacker arrived from outside Islamabad a few days before the blast.
Police officers told Dawn that investigators had recovered a face, believed to be that of the bomber, from the scene. https://t.co/O8jixzNFDF
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 12, 2025
Preliminary findings indicated the bomber, reportedly of Pashtun or Afghan appearance, had reached the city on Friday and travelled from Pir Wadhai to the courts on a motorcycle. Police said 92 CCTV clips were analysed using artificial intelligence to trace his route. The suicide vest contained four to five kilograms of explosives packed with ball bearings.
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. Investigators are verifying whether any handlers or facilitators were involved. A car and motorcycle seen in security footage have been declared suspicious.
The blast took place amid several high-profile events in the twin cities, including the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference and the 6th Margalla Dialogue, as well as an ongoing cricket series in Rawalpindi.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and senior cabinet members reviewed the security situation at Aiwan-i-Sadr, condemning the attack and pledging continued operations against “foreign-sponsored terrorism.”
Security around the judicial complex and other sensitive locations in Islamabad has since been intensified, with authorities tightening checks at entry and exit points.
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