UPDATE - At least 24 killed in explosion at religious site in Pakistani capital

UPDATES WITH DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Islamuddin Sajid and Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISLAMABAD / ISTANBUL (AA) - At least 24 people were killed and 101 others injured Friday when an explosion hit a religious site in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, officials confirmed.

The explosion hit Imambargah, located in the Shehzad Town area of Islamabad.

The Islamabad district administration said in an official statement, "the site of the explosion has been completely sealed off."

Search and rescue operations have been launched while the injured have been rushed to hospitals.

Video footage showed many people on the ground after the explosion.

Imambargah is a religious site used by Shia Muslims.

"A suicide bomber detonated" when he was stopped at the gate of the religious site on the outskirts of the federal capital, local broadcaster Geo TV reported.