Charred vehicles and a mangled motorcycle lay outside Islamabad’s district court Tuesday, their metal frames still warm as investigators sealed off the area where a suicide bomber had killed at least 12 people.

It was a rare assault at the heart of Pakistan’s capital where blood stained a two-way street, and shattered glass glimmered among the debris.

“It was a very strong and terrifying explosion,” said Khalid Mandokhel, a 24-year-old lawyer.

“Many of the victims were bystanders,” he told AFP at the scene.

The blue police van hit in the blast stood crippled at the entrance, its metal pierced by shrapnel and tyres shredded, as investigators documented every mark on the vehicle.

More than 25 people were wounded in the attack.

Rustam Malik, another lawyer, said he “heard a loud bang at

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