A loud explosion was heard on Kurri Road, Rawalpindi within the precincts of an imambargah, DawnNews reported Wednesday. Seven people are reported injured, with some in critical condition.
An initial investigation suggests the blast occurred when a suicide bomber blew himself up after security officials stopped him from entering the Qasar-e-Sakina Imamabargah.
Medical teams and police authorities have rushed to the site to begin rescue operations.The injured have been rushed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Poly Clinic Hospital. An emergency has been declared at the hospitals in the twin cities and doctors have been asked to report for duty.
There were also reports of firing following the attack, however, the identity of the gunmen has not been determined. The area has been cordoned off by security forces.
This is the fourth in a series of major attacks targeting the Shia community this year.
On February 14, at least 21 people were killed and 50 others injured during a gun and bomb attack at an imambargah in Peshawar's Hayatabad area when suicide attackers and gunmen — dressed in police uniforms — attacked worshippers offering Friday prayers.
The Jamatul Ahrar faction of banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in January claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on an imambargah in Rawalpindi, which killed eight people and wounded 16 others.
Two weeks prior, a suicide bombing at an Imambargah in Shikarpur killed 61 people — the deadliest sectarian incident to hit the country in nearly two years.
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