Bombing at mosque in Islamabad kills at least 31

At least 31 people were killed and 169 wounded in a bombing at a Shiite mosque near Islamabad, as Pakistan faces a surge in extremist violence, Euronews reports.

A bombing at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital killed at least 31 people and wounded at least 169 others during Friday prayers, officials said.

Police said they were investigating whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.

The death toll from the bombing at the Khadija Al-Kubra mosque could rise as some wounded were in critical condition. Television footage and social media images showed police and residents transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. However, the possible suspects include militants such as the Pakistani Taliban or the so-called Islamic State group, which has been blamed for previous attacks on Shiite worshippers, a minority in Pakistan. Militants often target security forces and civilians across the country.

Pakistan has seen a surge in extremist violence in recent months, largely blamed on Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which is separate from but allied with Afghanistan's Taliban. A regional affiliate of the Islamic State group has also been active in the country.

Although attacks are less frequent in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital has experienced previous major incidents.