A group of police gathered outside the High Court building ahead of an anti-government protest was targeted by the suicide bombing according to officials. The suicide bomber blew himself up after being approached by the police.
It comes amid the extreme political tension that follows after the assassination of opposition and former Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto. Elections were originally scheduled for January 8 but will be rescheduled in February 18.
The attack took place around 0700 GMT which is noontime in Pakistan. This was where the courts were at their busiest.
“The explosion was horrible and a number of people, including police officers, were lying dead on ground,” according to Tariq Jayed, a passer-by.
Mohammad Arshad who works at a clerk in a lawyer’s office saw blood and bits of flesh sticking to the broken windows.
“The whole building shook and when I ran out I saw bodies lying all around. There was flesh and blood everywhere and people were crying for help,” Arshad said to Reuters news agency.
According to police, the suicide attacker was a young man who came outside the court on a motorbike. Police add that the attack was timed to cause maximum damage.
Since 2007, Pakistan’s seen a major rise of suicide bombings. At least 3,000 lives were claimed last year due to over 50 suicide bombings.