Islamabad, Pakistan – At least 12 people were killed and 27 injured in a suicide bombing outside a district court in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Tuesday, the country’s interior minister said.

Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the attacker had attempted to enter the courthouse but was stopped at the gate before detonating explosives near a police vehicle after waiting for about 15 minutes.

“Those involved will be brought to justice,” Naqvi said, adding that efforts are under way to identify the bomber. The injured are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.

Footage from the scene showed a burnt-out car and plumes of smoke rising from behind a security barrier as emergency teams cordoned off the area. The blast occurred at 12:39pm local time (07:39 GMT).

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism”.

Witnesses reported scenes of panic immediately after the explosion. “It was complete chaos. Lawyers and people were running inside the complex,” said Rustam Malik, who was near the gate at the time. “I saw two bodies lying on the ground and several cars on fire.”

Suicide attacks in Islamabad have been rare in recent years. The last such incident in the capital was three years ago, when a police officer was killed and several others were injured. However, parts of the country have continued to experience sporadic militant attacks in recent months.

Agencies