A suicide bomber attacked outside a district court in Islamabad on Tuesday, killing 12 people and injuring 27 when explosives detonated near a police vehicle during a busy court session.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with the blast heard for miles.

The attack was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out smaller attacks in recent years.

Authorities said the bomber tried to enter the court but, failing that, targeted a police car, The AP has reported.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused “Indian-backed elements and Afghan Taliban proxies” of involvement, though investigations into all aspects of the explosion are ongoing.