Picture of ‘suicide bomber’ issued amid terror threat in Islamabad

In the wake of a possible terrorist attack in Islamabad, security has been put on high alert with law enforcement agencies issuing a picture of the likely suicide bomber who might target the capital city, Express News reported.

The development comes days after the US, UK, Saudi Arabian and Australian governments issued advisories to their respective citizens in Pakistan, prohibiting their nationals in the country from visiting a five-star hotel in Islamabad because of the possible threat of a terrorist attack.

The unprecedented advisory and threat alert were issued after a police official embraced martyrdom and several others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a check-up in Sector I-10 of Islamabad.

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This was the first suicide attack in the federal capital in more than eight years, police officials and witnesses had said.

The bombing, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), took place near the police headquarters on the main road leading to government buildings housing the parliament and other high offices.

According to sources, law enforcement agencies have been informed by intelligence officials that a terrorist named Zakir Khan s/o Laiq hailing from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa might try to enter Islamabad for terrorist activity.

They said that law enforcement agencies have alerted the police in the capital. Authorities have put in place strict security measures and a red alert has been issued for the capital.

The security of the Parliament House has also been tightened as additional FC personnel have been deployed at the outer gate. The entry of unrelated persons has also been banned.

Sources revealed that gate one of the Parliament House has been made accessible. The meetings of standing committees have been postponed whereas only parliamentarians, employees and registered journalists are allowed to enter the Parliament House.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police are conducting snap checks in different areas of the city, causing problems to the citizens.

Citizens have been advised to leave 15 to 20 minutes early to go to offices or business places due to tight security measures in view of the terror threat.

The police have appealed to the citizens to cooperate with the officials during checking and report any unusual activity immediately.