Terror at Friday prayers in Pakistan mosque: ISIS claims responsibility

IS said one of its militants targeted the congregation, detonating an explosive vest and “inflicting a large number of deaths and injuries,” the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist communications, told The Japan Times.

The suicide bombing struck the Tarlai Imambargah, a Shia place of worship in the Shehzad Town area, during afternoon prayers. More than 160 people were injured in what is being described as one of the deadliest attacks in the country in recent months, amid a surge in violence linked to Baloch insurgents.

Pakistani media reported that the attacker set off the explosives at the main gate of the shrine after approaching the congregation. The powerful blast caused extensive damage to the entrance and nearby buildings, shattering windows and scattering debris across the road.

The attack comes less than three months after a suicide bombing outside a district and sessions court in Islamabad on November 11, 2025, which killed 12 people and injured more than 30.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, expressing “deep grief” over the loss of lives. In a statement, he said the government stands with the victims and their families and directed authorities to ensure swift medical treatment for the injured.