Pakistan’s military says it has arrested four people accused of facilitating Friday’s suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, as security agencies step up operations amid renewed fears of militant violence and cross-border threats.
The blast struck the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area on the outskirts of the capital, killing at least 32 worshippers and injuring around 170 others. Thousands gathered on Saturday to attend funeral prayers and bury the victims, as grief and anger spread across the city.
In a statement, the military said intelligence and law enforcement agencies carried out raids in Peshawar and Nowshera, calling the arrests a “major breakthrough”. It claimed the detainees helped the attacker and that an Afghan-based ISIL mastermind behind the bombing had also been identified. According to the military, the planning, training and indoctrination for the attack took place in Afghanistan, alleging that militant groups continue to operate there under Taliban patronage.
Earlier, police said they had arrested two brothers and a woman during a raid on what they described as the bomber’s hideout. ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The bombing was Islamabad’s deadliest since 2008 and the second major attack in the capital in three months, fuelling concerns about a return of violence to major cities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed justice, saying those responsible would be punished and Pakistan would remain united against terrorism. While Pakistani officials blamed India-backed proxies, New Delhi rejected the accusations as baseless, urging Pakistan to address its internal security challenges.
