In brief
Following a devastating suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed more than 30 people during Friday prayers, authorities have arrested four individuals, including an Afghan national alleged to be the mastermind. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State, also left over 160 injured and marked one of the deadliest incidents in the capital in over a decade. In the wake of the bombing, the Pakistani government has pledged to enhance security measures.
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating a suicide bombing that killed more than 30 people on Friday, Pakistan's interior minister has said. Mohsin Naqvi stated that an Afghan national, alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack, was among those detained. One counter-terrorism officer died and three were injured during the raids to apprehend the suspects. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing, which occurred at the Shia mosque in Tarlai during busy Friday prayers. More than 160 individuals were wounded in the blast, making it the deadliest incident in the capital in over a decade.Hundreds of mourners gathered on Saturday in Islamabad for funerals of the 32 victims as security was heightened across the city. Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos that ensued after the blast, with one person stating they 'lost their senses' in the aftermath. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing deep grief, while the country's President Asif Ali Zardari described the targeting of innocent civilians as a 'crime against humanity.'Naqvi has accused India of funding those behind the attack; however, Indian officials have dismissed these claims as baseless. Additionally, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested possible involvement of Afghanistan in the incident, prompting a response from the Afghan Taliban government, which decried the allegations as unfounded. The Pakistani government is now looking to bolster security measures across the capital, including enhancing police presence and upgrading surveillance systems.This bombing follows a recent wave of violence that resulted in numerous fatalities across Pakistan, further complicating the security landscape in the region.
