Islamabad shrine attack: Suicide bomber kills at least 69, sparks citywide emergency

The blast occurred at the Tarlai Imambargah in the Shehzad Town area during afternoon prayers.

Pakistani media reports said the attacker set off the explosives at the main gate of the shrine.

Security officials told The Times of Islamabad that alert guards intercepted the bomber at the entrance, preventing him from entering the main hall where a large number of worshippers had gathered.

Despite this, the powerful explosion caused extensive damage to the gate and nearby buildings, shattering windows and scattering debris across the road.

Video footage from the scene showed severe structural damage and multiple casualties lying amid the rubble.

Following the attack, the Islamabad Inspector General of Police declared a city-wide emergency. Rescue and law enforcement teams rushed to the site amid fears that the death toll could rise.

The injured were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic Hospital, officials said.

While some reports put the number of injured at over 160, government statements initially confirmed at least 80 wounded.

The attack comes less than three months after a suicide bombing outside a district and sessions court in Islamabad on November 11, 2025, which killed 12 people and injured more than 30.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, expressing “deep grief” over the loss of lives.

In a statement, he said the government stands with the victims and their families and ordered authorities to ensure swift medical treatment for the injured.