Pakistan: Massive Suicide Truck Bomb Rocks Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, 40 Killed...(Update) Senior CIA Officers Target of the Blast....

 

You reap what you sow.....

A massive suicide truck bomb devastated the heavily guarded Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital Saturday, killing at least 40 people and wounding at least 100. Officials feared there were dozens more dead inside the burning building.

The blast targeting the U.S. hotel chain appeared to be one of the largest terrorist attacks ever in Pakistan, leaving a vast crater some 30 feet deep in front of the main building, where rescuers ferried a stream of bloodied bodies.

The five-story Marriott had been a favorite place for foreigners as well as Pakistani politicians and business people to stay and socialize in Islamabad despite repeated militant attacks.

Two hospitals said 10 foreigners were among those in their treatment, including one each from Germany, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Afghanistan.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said officials were in the process of accounting for embassy staff and any other Americans that may have been affected.

A U.S. State Department official led three colleagues through the rubble from the charred building, one of them bleeding heavily from a wound on the side of his head.

One of the four, who identified himself only as Tony, said they had begun moving toward the rear of the Chinese restaurant after the first blast when the second one threw them against the back wall.

"Then we saw a big truck coming through the gates," he said. "After that it was just smoke and darkness."

Rest here>>>

Update 8:00 PM: Tipped off by the Marriott's staff, no doubt.....

Islamabad , Sept 20 (ANI):  Several senior officers of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who are reported to be currently visiting Islamabad were the target of the blast at the Marriott Hotel which took place here tonight.

Well placed sources said that Marriott Hotel is usual hotel choice of the US officials and it seems that militants tipped off that certain high level US intelligence officers were currently staying at the hotel.

While no confirmation was available but Pakistan sources said it was clear that the explosion was aimed at specific targets based on a tip off.

ZIP

Comments

[Elric66]

Im sure the "liberal" Pakis can get along with these guys

[Mullah Lodabullah]

* ... after the first blast when the second one threw them against the back wall ...

"Allah's" fingerprints are all over this one - suicide bomber, two
blasts ... (nothing to do with islam, of course)

[omvi]

There's a report at NRO that the target of the attack were high level CIA boys.

[Airedale]

The Pakistan government had a deal for "peace in our time".again and again and again. ISI has the usual blood on their hands with this one. The things Musharraf has agreed not to say for stepping down must be amazing

[Atom&Yves]

The Taliban Winning Hearts and Minds in Pakistan.....(previous article):

"I would rather live in the dark ages under the Taleban than be subservient to any foreign power."

The unexpected comment comes from an urbane, sophisticated and, I had always thought, Westernised Pashtun lawyer.

He wears none of the badges of Islamic piety - a beard, for example - and he normally sports a navy blazer not the local shalwar kameez.

He is a former minister with the Pakistan People's Party, the most liberal in Pakistan.

The word liberal in the Pakistani context means modern, educated, secular rather than theocratic and, up until now at least, pro-Western.

>>Well here you go Hadji! Start sweeping out and tidying up your fckng cave.

[Battlecat]

Where there is Islam, there is war.

[Pat Viliors, UK]

Oh yes, it's all about Israel you know...