Car bombing in Islamabad Kills 2 Suspects & Policeman

Fri 23 Dec 2022 | 11:35 AM

By Ahmad El-Assasy

Two suspected militants and an officer were killed by a powerful car bomb that exploded near a residential area in Islamabad on Friday, according to authorities, raising concerns that militants may be present in one of the city's safest neighbourhoods.

The bombing injured at least three police officers and seven bystanders. The explosion was attributed to the Pakistani Taliban.

The attack that took place in Pakistan's capital city on Friday took place 15 kilometres (or 9 miles) away in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where the military and government surveillance services are based.

In a statement, police said that the explosion took place when officials observed the automobile and gave the driver the order to stop for routine inspection. Instead of coming to a stop, the driver set off hidden explosives. Suhail Zafar Chattha, a senior police official in Islamabad, told reporters at the site that a female passenger in the car was also murdered.

As police officers surrounded the scene, TV footage showed a flaming automobile.

Locals reported seeing police on motorbikes pursuing a car and forcing the driver to get out.

According to Chattha, the city's deputy police chief, the suspect detonated the explosive-packed truck after being surrounded by law enforcement.