TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Marriott Bombing Kills At Least 40 In Pakistan

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: September 21, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A massive suicide truck bomb gutted the heavily guarded Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital Saturday, killing at least 40 people and injuring hundreds. Dozens more were feared dead inside the building where rescuers continued to search early today.

One American was confirmed among the dead. U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said officials were trying to account for embassy staff and any other Americans affected.

The targeting of the U.S. hotel chain appeared to be one of the largest terrorist attacks ever in Pakistan and came at a time of growing anger over a wave of cross-border strikes on militant bases by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The attack dealt the firm its worst loss of life and property in its 81-year history. Chief Executive Bill Marriott said in a blog post Saturday that many of those killed were employees.

The bomb left a crater some 30 feet deep in front of the main building, where rescuers ferried a stream of bloodied bodies. The fire was still burning six hours after the blast and devastated most of the five-story hotel, casting a thick pall of smoke over the area.

"The fire has eaten the entire building," said Mohammed Ali, an emergency service official at the scene.

The bombing came just hours after President Asif Ali Zardari made his first address to Parliament, less than a mile away from the hotel, and days ahead of the new leader's meeting with President Bush on Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

Zardari reappeared on state television to condemn the "cowardly attack."

Witnesses and officials said the truck exploded about 60 feet away from the hotel at two heavy metal barriers blocking the entrance. It went off at about 8 p.m., when four restaurants inside would have been packed with diners at the hour that Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan.

Senior police official Asghar Raza Gardaizi said rescuers had counted at least 40 bodies at the scene and that he feared that there "dozens more dead inside."
Information Minister Sherry Rehman said 250 people were wounded. Two hospitals said 10 were foreigners.

A NEW VISION FOR PAKISTAN

President Asif Ali Zardari addressed a joint session of parliament Saturday, his first speech there since his election two weeks ago, and promised a program of peace and reform while vowing to root out terrorism and extremism.

Zardari, who is seen as pro-American but is handling a public backlash against U.S. policy toward militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, declared his government should be firm in its resolve not to allow terrorists to use Pakistani soil to carry out terrorist activities against any foreign country, and said he wanted to improve relations with two of Pakistan's neighbors, Afghanistan and India.

He also warned, however, that Pakistan would not abide further U.S. military incursions into the border areas.

The New York Times

Information from The Washington Post was used in this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT