Islamabad, Feb 18 (IANS): At least two people died and scores of others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shia mosque near the garrison town of Rawalpindi Wednesday, a media report said.

The suicide bomber detonated his explosives when he was stopped for a security check at the Qasar-e-Sakina Imambargah on Kurri Road, Dawn reported.

The mosque, located in the vicinity of the main highway linking the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, was packed to capacity at the time of the explosion, the report added.

The blast was followed by firing. However, police have not been able to identify the gunmen. Security forces have cordoned off the area.

An emergency has been declared at the hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and doctors have been asked to report for duty.

Two bodies were brought to the hospital, while five critically injured people were undergoing intensive treatment, a Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences spokesperson was quoted as saying.

This is the fourth such attack targeting the Shia community this year. Last week, 21 people were killed in a suicide attack at a Shia mosque in Peshawar city during Friday prayers.