One policeman was martyred and at least six people — including four police officers and two civilians — were injured in a suicide blast in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector on Friday (December 23), police said.
The injured were taken to the hospital immediately and the area was cordoned off for further investigation.
Videos shared on social media and news channels showed the fiery wreckage of a vehicle with many personnel from the police, ambulance, fire brigade and bomb disposal team at the scene.
The incident occurred around 10:15 am when the local police spotted a “suspicious vehicle” with a man and a woman seen inside. “When the police stopped the vehicle, the couple came out of the car. While being checked by the officers, the long-haired man went inside the vehicle and then detonated himself,” DIG Operations Sohail Zafar Chattha told media.
One police officer of the Eagle Squad identified as Head Constable Adeel Hussain was martyred in the blast while four others officers were injured. DIG praised the police for “saving Islamabad and averting a major tragedy”.
Islamabad police said that terrorists had been targeting police for some time to demoralize law enforcement personnel.