At least 31 people have been killed and 169 injured in an explosion at a mosque during Friday prayers in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. According to police, a suicide bomber detonated a device after approaching the gates of the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area of the city.
Eyewitnesses described the blast as "preceded by gunfire" with one witness recounting: "We bowed - then there was an explosion." Another witness reported hearing gunfire and rushing towards the mosque to help, where he saw "bodies lying everywhere, some were missing arms, some missing legs."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing "deep grief" and calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. The country's President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a statement, condemning the attack as a crime against humanity.
Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released via its Telegram channels. IS identified the attacker as Sayf Allah al-Ansari and said the attack was carried out on behalf of its "Pakistan Province" branch.
The blast is the latest in a series of attacks to hit Pakistan, which has seen a surge in violence over the past week. Last year was also Pakistan's deadliest in over a decade, with combat-related deaths surging 74%.
The Pakistani government and military have been fighting an insurgency in various parts of the country for decades. The Taliban government in Afghanistan has condemned the attack and called on Pakistan to take action against those responsible.
The Indian foreign ministry has also condemned the attack, saying it was "baseless" and accused Pakistan of supporting militant groups. However, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that India and Afghanistan may be behind the attack.
Eyewitnesses described the blast as "preceded by gunfire" with one witness recounting: "We bowed - then there was an explosion." Another witness reported hearing gunfire and rushing towards the mosque to help, where he saw "bodies lying everywhere, some were missing arms, some missing legs."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing "deep grief" and calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. The country's President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a statement, condemning the attack as a crime against humanity.
Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released via its Telegram channels. IS identified the attacker as Sayf Allah al-Ansari and said the attack was carried out on behalf of its "Pakistan Province" branch.
The blast is the latest in a series of attacks to hit Pakistan, which has seen a surge in violence over the past week. Last year was also Pakistan's deadliest in over a decade, with combat-related deaths surging 74%.
The Pakistani government and military have been fighting an insurgency in various parts of the country for decades. The Taliban government in Afghanistan has condemned the attack and called on Pakistan to take action against those responsible.
The Indian foreign ministry has also condemned the attack, saying it was "baseless" and accused Pakistan of supporting militant groups. However, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that India and Afghanistan may be behind the attack.
this is just horrific news, 31 lives lost to a senseless act of terrorism 
can't believe what we're seeing in Pakistan right now 
every time something like this happens, it feels like the world is taking two steps back 
and honestly, I feel for the ppl there who have to deal with all this violence & fear 
it's a never-ending cycle of violence that needs to stop ASAP 
and let's not forget the innocent lives lost, may they rest in peace 
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. Can't believe how violent things are getting in Pakistan 
. May this incident lead to even more unity and determination to create peace 
The fact that this was a suicide bombing during Friday prayers is just so cruel - those poor people were just trying to pray, have a good day... and then BAM! 
It's just so frustrating.
I know it's not easy, but something needs to be done... whether it's the government, the military, or whatever else. We need some kind of action plan to stop these attacks and make Pakistan a safer place again. 
. i feel so bad for the people who have to live through this kinda stuff daily. it's like, what's going on in this world? 
. bodies everywhere, destruction all around... it's heartbreaking 
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. they're already fighting for so long and need support not just in words but actions too 
. can't believe how india is always quick to point fingers 
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, 31 people lost their lives and many more are injured... it's like the world is just running out of patience with these terrorist attacks. but what really gets me is how quickly people are jumping to conclusions about who might be behind this attack... india or afghanistan? come on, can't we focus on finding a solution instead of pointing fingers at each other 
sometimes i wonder if we're just getting caught up in the propaganda instead of looking at the facts... anyway, what's next for pakistan? will this be the spark that sets off a chain reaction of more violence or can they find a way to move forward without resorting to these tragic attacks 
. can't we all just focus on finding out who's behind this and bringing them to justice? 
. and you can literally smell the spices and flavors while walking down the street... it's like your taste buds are dancing 
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. And what about the Taliban government in Afghanistan - shouldn't they be doing more to condemn such attacks and take a stand against their own proxies? It seems like a case of playing the blame game instead of working together to tackle the root causes of terrorism 
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. isis always blaming others for their attacks, like they're some kinda masterminds or something 
anyway, it's just another example of how pakistan is struggling to keep its citizens safe... and india and afghanistan are all playing into each other's hands... makes me wanna cry 
31 lives lost is just too many & 169 injured can't even imagine what they're going through right now 
? Its sad that IS claims responsiblity 
. How many more ppl have 2 die b4 we can say we've done enuf 
. It's already been dealing with an insurgency for decades, and now this... it's just too much 
. The Pakistani government needs to do more to keep their citizens safe, that's my two cents 
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