At least eight paramilitary personnel were killed and five others injured when a suicide bomber struck in the heart of the Pakistani capital on Saturday targeting security forces near the UN office.

The suicide bomber targetted the barracks of the VIP and Diplomatic Protection Department near the Jinnah supermarket in Islamabad, killing at least eight, police officials said.

Though initial reports had said that there was an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected militants, but police officials clarified that Paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel had fired in panic. The personnel have been asked to unload their weapons to prevent any further panic-firing.

The market was packed with shoppers at the time of the attack. Panicked people rushed out of the supermarket causing traffic snarls on nearby roads as the police and security personnel cordoned off the area.

Security personnel have repeatedly come under attack from militants in Pakistan in the recent past.

DIG Bin Yamin told reporters that at least eight Paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel were killed and five others were injured. He said body parts of the suicide bomber have been found at the site where the attack occurred at about 7.38 pm. The police has also lifted the cordon.

Meanwhile TV channels quoted a senior police official as saying that one person has been arrested in connection with the attack.

“We have arrested a suspect and interrogation is on,” Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police Tahir Alam, said.

In a separate attack, 17 people, including five children, were killed and over 30 others injured on Saturday when a suicide bomber attempted to target a security forces convoy in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal region.

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