“Guard Shot the Attacker in the Leg”: Eyewitnesses Describe Suicide Attack at Shia Mosque in Islamabad

Islamabad: A deadly suicide attack at the Dija al-Kubra Shia mosque in Islamabad on Friday has left 36 people dead and 170 injured, sparking shock across Pakistan. The Islamic State (IS), a radical Sunni extremist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. It is one of the largest assaults in the capital in recent years.

Eyewitnesses described the chaos and terror during Friday prayers at the Kasar-e-Khadijat-ul-Kubra mosque in the Tarlai area. Two men who were present during the attack gave detailed accounts of the horrifying incident and the bravery of security personnel who tried to stop the attackers.

Eyewitness Accounts

One worshipper, 52-year-old Mohammad Qasim, told Geo TV that the attack occurred just one to two minutes after prayers began. “As the first rukoo of the prayer started, we heard gunfire. Immediately after, a massive explosion shook the entire mosque building. It felt like someone had lifted us and thrown us around,” Qasim recounted. He described the scene as people screaming and chaos everywhere, with broken windows and falling debris. Qasim narrowly escaped but his friend was injured, whom he later visited at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Security Guard’s Bravery

Imran Mahmood, another eyewitness near the mosque’s entrance, described a struggle between the suicide bomber, his accomplice, and volunteer guards. Mahmood said a security guard shot the bomber in the thigh, causing him to fall. “He got up a few seconds later, and his accomplice fired at the volunteer guard, giving the bomber the chance to reach the gate and detonate himself,” Mahmood said. He added that for several minutes after the blast, the area was engulfed in smoke and the screams of the injured.

This attack has sent shockwaves through Islamabad and Pakistan, highlighting the ongoing threat from extremist groups in the region and the critical role of brave security personnel in limiting the scale of such attacks.