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 who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack was among those detained. Unfortunately, one counter-terrorism officer was killed, and three others were wounded in the ensuing raids targeting the suspects.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bombing that struck during Friday prayers at the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area, which was packed with worshippers.
Over 160 individuals were injured in the blast, marking it as the deadliest incident in Islamabad in more than a decade.
Thousands gathered in the city on Saturday to mourn the 32 victims of the bombing, with heightened security measures in place during the funeral prayers, including police checkpoints and soldiers providing guard.
Ashiq Hussain, who lost his 21-year-old nephew Mujtaba Ali in the attack, shared his family's heartbreak with the press, stating they feel broken.
In response to the tragedy, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow, while President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the targeting of innocent civilians as a crime against humanity.
Eyewitness accounts recount the chaotic moments following the explosion. Survivors described the horrific scene, with bodies scattered and panic spreading among the crowd.
Along with the arrests, Naqvi accused India of facilitating the attackers, linking them to funding and detailed a plan to bolster security across the city through new police recruits and advanced systems.
Attacks in the capital are infrequent, but this incident follows a spate of violence in Balochistan province, where several coordinated attacks led to numerous casualties.
