ISLAMABAD: At least 12 people were martyred and 21 others sustained injuries in a suicide bomb explosion near the Islamabad Kacheri area on Tuesday, according to police reports.
Police officials said a car caught fire immediately after the explosion, with flames quickly engulfing the vehicle. Nearby cars and motorcycles were also damaged by the impact.
A heavy contingent of security personnel reached the site shortly after the incident, while rescue teams shifted the wounded to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Hospital authorities confirmed that several injured individuals are in critical condition, warning that the death toll may rise.
Authorities have since cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Sources revealed that body parts believed to belong to the suicide bomber, including the head, were recovered from the blast site.
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Inspector General (IG) Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and the Chief Commissioner visited the scene and were briefed about the explosion and the ongoing investigation.
The fire caused by the blast has now been brought under control, officials added.