ISLAMABAD, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed in a suicide bombing outside the District Judicial Complex of the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Tuesday, the country's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said.
"The incident happened at 12:39 p.m. local time (0739 GMT) when the attacker tried to enter the court premises to cause mass casualties, but detonated himself outside the building upon failing to enter it," he said Tuesday.
The minister said initial evidence suggested possible links between the bombing and a recent attack in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
"We are linking this blast with a lot of things, and in the coming hours or days, we will be very clear about it ... Identifying the attacker is our top priority. Whoever is involved, whether locals or foreigners, will not be spared," he vowed.
The banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the attack, warning that it would carry out more such assaults in the future.
Police and rescue officials said the blast caused damage to nearby vehicles and spread panic among bystanders. Forensic teams collected evidence from the scene, including the suspected bomber's remains.
At least 38 people were injured in the attack and were shifted to two hospitals in the capital, according to patient records reviewed by Xinhua at the hospitals.
Among the injured were several police personnel, while a lawyer was among the deceased, police sources told Xinhua.
The Islamabad Bar Council condemned the attack, announcing a three-day strike and calling for stronger security measures to protect the legal community and citizens.
The country's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "cowardly act of terrorism orchestrated by terrorist networks."
Both leaders expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed authorities to ensure a swift investigation and enhanced security in the capital. ■
