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Pakistan's capital shaken - Massive cylinder explosion in court parking lot, death toll likely to rise
Islamabad (Pakistan) - A massive explosion took place in a car outside the High Court in Pakistan's capital Islamabad this afternoon, shaking the entire area. So far, 9 people have died in the explosion, while 20 to 25 have been seriously injured. The explosion was so loud that its sound was heard for kilometers and vibrations were felt in the surrounding buildings. According to preliminary information, the accident occurred due to the explosion of a gas cylinder in a car parked in the parking area of ??the High Court.
The explosion took place around 11 am, when there was a huge crowd of lawyers, employees and ordinary citizens in the court area. Initial estimates are that the cylinder may have been kept in the engine compartment of the car parked in the parking lot. After the explosion, the remains of the car were scattered and the surrounding vehicles were extensively damaged. A fire broke out at the site of the explosion, which sent a plume of smoke far away and created an atmosphere of fear in the area. Eyewitnesses said the blast was so loud that the windows of the main court building shook and people started running in panic.
According to local police officials, the dead in the blast included two lawyers working in the court, a security guard and some civilians. Most of the injured were lawyers and citizens who had come to the court for a hearing. The injured were immediately admitted to Islamabad's Polyclinic Hospital and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Doctors said that the condition of some of the injured was critical and the death toll could rise. An emergency has been declared at the hospital for treatment and additional medical teams have been called in.
Police immediately rushed to the scene and sealed off the entire court premises. Although the traffic jam was hampering the rescue operation, fire brigade teams brought the fire under control. An Islamabad police spokesperson said, "Initial investigations suggest that it was a cylinder blast. However, the possibility of a terrorist attack is being investigated. Forensic teams and bomb disposal squads have reached the spot and CCTV footage is being examined." The police have started checking all vehicles in the area and court hearings have been temporarily suspended.
This incident has once again raised questions about the security system in Pakistan. Despite Islamabad being the capital, such incidents are a matter of concern. In the last few months, incidents of cylinder blasts have increased in Pakistan, and such accidents are due to the habit of keeping gas cylinders in vehicles. However, suspicions of a terrorist plot are also being expressed due to the explosion in a sensitive place like a court. Pakistan's Interior Ministry has ordered a high-level inquiry and the Prime Minister's Office is also being asked about the incident.
An eyewitness lawyer said, "I was just leaving the court when a loud noise was heard. A part of the car exploded and people started screaming. I myself was not injured, but my friend was seriously injured." Another citizen said, "The parking lot is always crowded, but today everyone ran away in fear. The government should increase security in such places."
The incident brought normal life in Islamabad to a standstill for some time. Traffic jams were created on main roads and schools and colleges were closed. Pakistani media and international news channels have started broadcasting the incident live, and the incident is being discussed from all over the world. Neighboring countries including India have also expressed concern to the Pakistani government about the security measures.
An investigation is currently underway and an official report is awaited. It will soon be clear whether this incident was an accident or a conspiracy. However, this explosion has come as a big shock to the Pakistani judiciary and the public.
Islamabad (Pakistan) - A massive explosion took place in a car outside the High Court in Pakistan's capital Islamabad this afternoon, shaking the entire area. So far, 9 people have died in the explosion, while 20 to 25 have been seriously injured. The explosion was so loud that its sound was heard for kilometers and vibrations were felt in the surrounding buildings. According to preliminary information, the accident occurred due to the explosion of a gas cylinder in a car parked in the parking area of ??the High Court.
The explosion took place around 11 am, when there was a huge crowd of lawyers, employees and ordinary citizens in the court area. Initial estimates are that the cylinder may have been kept in the engine compartment of the car parked in the parking lot. After the explosion, the remains of the car were scattered and the surrounding vehicles were extensively damaged. A fire broke out at the site of the explosion, which sent a plume of smoke far away and created an atmosphere of fear in the area. Eyewitnesses said the blast was so loud that the windows of the main court building shook and people started running in panic.
According to local police officials, the dead in the blast included two lawyers working in the court, a security guard and some civilians. Most of the injured were lawyers and citizens who had come to the court for a hearing. The injured were immediately admitted to Islamabad's Polyclinic Hospital and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Doctors said that the condition of some of the injured was critical and the death toll could rise. An emergency has been declared at the hospital for treatment and additional medical teams have been called in.
Police immediately rushed to the scene and sealed off the entire court premises. Although the traffic jam was hampering the rescue operation, fire brigade teams brought the fire under control. An Islamabad police spokesperson said, "Initial investigations suggest that it was a cylinder blast. However, the possibility of a terrorist attack is being investigated. Forensic teams and bomb disposal squads have reached the spot and CCTV footage is being examined." The police have started checking all vehicles in the area and court hearings have been temporarily suspended.
This incident has once again raised questions about the security system in Pakistan. Despite Islamabad being the capital, such incidents are a matter of concern. In the last few months, incidents of cylinder blasts have increased in Pakistan, and such accidents are due to the habit of keeping gas cylinders in vehicles. However, suspicions of a terrorist plot are also being expressed due to the explosion in a sensitive place like a court. Pakistan's Interior Ministry has ordered a high-level inquiry and the Prime Minister's Office is also being asked about the incident.
An eyewitness lawyer said, "I was just leaving the court when a loud noise was heard. A part of the car exploded and people started screaming. I myself was not injured, but my friend was seriously injured." Another citizen said, "The parking lot is always crowded, but today everyone ran away in fear. The government should increase security in such places."
The incident brought normal life in Islamabad to a standstill for some time. Traffic jams were created on main roads and schools and colleges were closed. Pakistani media and international news channels have started broadcasting the incident live, and the incident is being discussed from all over the world. Neighboring countries including India have also expressed concern to the Pakistani government about the security measures.
An investigation is currently underway and an official report is awaited. It will soon be clear whether this incident was an accident or a conspiracy. However, this explosion has come as a big shock to the Pakistani judiciary and the public.
The explosion took place around 11 am, when there was a huge crowd of lawyers, employees and ordinary citizens in the court area. Initial estimates are that the cylinder may have been kept in the engine compartment of the car parked in the parking lot. After the explosion, the remains of the car were scattered and the surrounding vehicles were extensively damaged. A fire broke out at the site of the explosion, which sent a plume of smoke far away and created an atmosphere of fear in the area. Eyewitnesses said the blast was so loud that the windows of the main court building shook and people started running in panic.
According to local police officials, the dead in the blast included two lawyers working in the court, a security guard and some civilians. Most of the injured were lawyers and citizens who had come to the court for a hearing. The injured were immediately admitted to Islamabad's Polyclinic Hospital and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Doctors said that the condition of some of the injured was critical and the death toll could rise. An emergency has been declared at the hospital for treatment and additional medical teams have been called in.
Police immediately rushed to the scene and sealed off the entire court premises. Although the traffic jam was hampering the rescue operation, fire brigade teams brought the fire under control. An Islamabad police spokesperson said, "Initial investigations suggest that it was a cylinder blast. However, the possibility of a terrorist attack is being investigated. Forensic teams and bomb disposal squads have reached the spot and CCTV footage is being examined." The police have started checking all vehicles in the area and court hearings have been temporarily suspended.
This incident has once again raised questions about the security system in Pakistan. Despite Islamabad being the capital, such incidents are a matter of concern. In the last few months, incidents of cylinder blasts have increased in Pakistan, and such accidents are due to the habit of keeping gas cylinders in vehicles. However, suspicions of a terrorist plot are also being expressed due to the explosion in a sensitive place like a court. Pakistan's Interior Ministry has ordered a high-level inquiry and the Prime Minister's Office is also being asked about the incident.
An eyewitness lawyer said, "I was just leaving the court when a loud noise was heard. A part of the car exploded and people started screaming. I myself was not injured, but my friend was seriously injured." Another citizen said, "The parking lot is always crowded, but today everyone ran away in fear. The government should increase security in such places."
The incident brought normal life in Islamabad to a standstill for some time. Traffic jams were created on main roads and schools and colleges were closed. Pakistani media and international news channels have started broadcasting the incident live, and the incident is being discussed from all over the world. Neighboring countries including India have also expressed concern to the Pakistani government about the security measures.
An investigation is currently underway and an official report is awaited. It will soon be clear whether this incident was an accident or a conspiracy. However, this explosion has come as a big shock to the Pakistani judiciary and the public.
