ISLAMABAD: As investigations into a bomb blast outside the judicial complex in Islamabad inched forward, the investigators on Wednesday detained a bike rider of an online ride-hailing platform, who had dropped off the bom­ber outside at the location.

A police official said the bomber had paid the fare to the bike rider against the ride, adding that he was traced and identified through the CCTV footage. After his location was traced, the police picked him up and shifted him to an installation where he was being kept under protective custody. The official said the suicide bomber had hailed a ride from Chongi No.26 to the judicial complex.

After he arrived there, he had made multiple atte­mpts to enter the premises but could not get through due to security measures. He roamed in the area for about 15 minutes but did not cross the road adjacent to the complex. However, he blew himself up after a police vehicle approached the scene.

The investigators are also tracking the movement of the bomber to find out if he had any possible accomplices in the federal capital and where he acq­uired the explosives from. The Counter-Terrorism Dep­ar­tment police station, meanwhile, registered a case into the incident.

On Tuesday, 12 people were killed and 36 were injured in a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court building in Islamabad’s G-11 area.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2025