ISLAMABAD – In a shocking turn of events, CCTV footage has revealed the terrifying final moments leading up to Tuesday’s deadly suicide blast outside the Islamabad District Courts, where at least 12 people were killed and nearly 30 injured.
CCTV footage of the Islamabad District Courts suicide bombing has emerged, showing the attacker detonating his explosives near a police vehicle. pic.twitter.com/X9Z0XAQNhX
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The footage shows a lone man standing anxiously outside the court’s main gate for nearly 12 agonizing minutes, pacing back and forth as he scouts the area. He can be seen attempting to enter the court premises but is stopped by security barriers. Moments later, he turns toward a nearby police vehicle — and detonates his explosives, triggering a massive explosion that sent fire and smoke billowing into the air.
Officials confirmed that the attacker’s failed attempt to breach court security likely prevented even greater devastation inside the premises.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, briefing reporters at the scene, confirmed the blast occurred at 12:39 p.m., describing it as a “suicide attack”. He said investigators are working round the clock to identify the bomber, promising that “whoever is responsible — local or foreign — will face consequences.”
Naqvi added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally overseeing the emergency response, with all hospitals in the capital placed on high alert.
The minister revealed that the CCTV footage is now the central piece of evidence in the investigation. “It shows the bomber moving from angle to angle, trying to figure out how to get inside. His actions were deliberate — he was waiting for the right moment,” Naqvi said.
The explosion took place as Islamabad hosted several high-profile events, including the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, the 6th Margalla Dialogue, and a Pakistan–Sri Lanka cricket match in nearby Rawalpindi.
According to hospital sources at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), an emergency was declared soon after the attack. Dr. Mubahshir Daha, a PIMS spokesperson, confirmed that 12 people had lost their lives while 30 others were being treated for injuries.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as cars caught fire and people ran for safety. “It was a massive blast — I saw at least five bodies lying near the gate,” lawyer Mohammed Shahzad Butt told AFP. Another witness, Rustam Malik, said, “Everyone was screaming and rushing inside the court compound.”
In the wake of the tragedy, security has been dramatically tightened across Islamabad, especially around the Judicial Complex and other sensitive installations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the attack as the work of “khawarij elements backed by Indian support,” calling it a “cowardly act against Pakistan’s peace and stability.” He extended condolences to the families of the victims and directed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the injured.
At least 12 killed, 27 injured in suicide blast outside Islamabad district courts
