Largest Terror Attack In Pakistan History Pakistan's 9/11

[seemslikeadream]

News is coming in of what officials are saying is the largest terrorist attack in Pakistan's history. Blast occurred at the Islamabad Marriot which is popular with western govt officials, media, and Islamabad political scene. Looks like it was a truck bomb that has left a 30 foot deep and 100 foot wide crater. The entire top floor of this massive building is on fire and the fire is working its way down onto the lower floors. Local police are calling this Pakistan's 9/11 and refering to the location as ground zero. Today is the first day that Pakistan's new civilain leader has spoken to the country. 40 dead although that is expected to be much higher as the hotel was packed. Some evidence of "specialized charges" that would take off side of hotel. Covers very large area 80% of glass is GONE. Windows shattered 14 miles from blast. Other building's nearby are said to be badly damaged including Pakistan TV building. Trees ripped apart. Many people are believed to be trapped inside. Marroit hotel was supossed to be in a safe zone.


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Police say the blast occurred as a lorry approached the hotel and they suspect it was a suicide attack.

Police estimate that the blast was caused by more than a tonne of explosives. They are warning that the hotel could collapse.


The Marriott is the most prestigious hotel in the capital, and is located near government buildings and diplomatic missions.

Security there is tight, with guests and vehicles subject to checks.

It is popular with foreigners visiting Pakistan or members of the expat community, and has previously been the target of militants.

Last year a suicide bomber killed himself and one other in an attack at the hotel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7627135.stm

[seemslikeadream]

1. US Marines may have been target of Marriot attack: Officials

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?artid=juyqYsIgb8k=&Title=US+Marines+may+have+been+target+of+Marriot+attack:+Officials&SectionID=oHSKVfNWYm0=&MainSectionID=ngGbWGz5Z14=&SectionName=VfE7I/Vl8os=&SEO=islamabad,blasts,marriot




US Marines may have been target of Marriot attack: Officials




IANS20 Sep 2008 11:07:00 PM ISTISLAMABAD: US Marines staying at the Marriott Hotel may have been the target of Saturday's suicide attack that killed more than 60 people, security officials said.


They said that about 30 Marines were staying at the hotel and were scheduled to leave for Afghanistan early Sunday morning.

The Islamabad administration said that 40 people were killed and about 100 injured in the blast but eyewitnesses and hospital sources say that more than 60 people were killed.

One official said that the American security personnel were in Pakistan for the just-concluded visit by the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen.

But another source said that they had come to Islamabad Friday and were scheduled to leave for Afghanistan on Sunday morning.

"We believe that they can have been the target of the suicide attack," a senior security official told IANS. Otherwise, "we don't find any other reason for such an attack", he added.

The sources said that soon after the blast, US embassy officials reached the spot and were seen looking for the Marines who, according to the sources, were staying on the fourth floor of the hotel which was among the worst affected as the entire hotel turned into a blazing inferno with orange flames and thick smoke billowing out of its windows.

Besides the Marines, the staff of Saudi Airline and a number of foreigners was also staying at the Marriot.

Police sources said that the dead include three Koreans, two Saudis and one American. Among the injured are some foreigners, including some Americans who were shifted to the hospital inside the US Embassy. Unconfirmed reports also said that a senior US security official was among the injured.

[DS1]

4. Dozens of dead Marines in a blast? Well, Bush always wanted to be Reagan

[lonestarnot]

5. Crashing us and starting world war III all in one month? October surprise.

2 marines dead.

[undeterred]

2. There has been a lot going on there in the last week

but the economic and political situation at home has distracted from it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Which to Bush and the Pentagon is justification for invading Lichtenstein.