Suicide attackers on Monday stormed a court complex in a rare gun and bomb attack in the heart of the Pakistani capital, killing at least 11 people including a judge and young lawyers.
The unidentified attackers burst into the complex of the local court and opened fire, killing Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmad Khan Awan and 10 others. At least 25 people were injured in the attack in F-8 area of the capital where a large number of expatriates stay. Though the exact number of the attackers could not be ascertained, Islamabad police chief said two of the attackers blew themselves up when cornered.
“The two gunmen when challenged blew themselves up. This was a suicide attack,” Inspector General of Police Sikandar Hayat told reporters. “Eleven people are dead and 25 others injured of whom five are in serious condition,” said Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. He said all the injuries were due to gun shot wounds on the upper part of the body. Akram said majority of the killed and injured were young lawyers.
The gunmen entered the court premises and threw two grenades, witnesses said. They opened indiscriminate fire with assault rifles which continued for about 15 minutes without being challenged by the few security personnel posted there.