The cabin of the suicide bomber’s truck packed with about 1000 kilograms of splinters, hand grenades, magnesium foils and other explosive materials burned and exploded in a massive blast. Injured and demised human bodies, burning vehicles and debris were seen in and around Islamabad’s five star hotel.
The suicide truck bomber attempted, but failed, to cross the security barriers around the hotel before blowing himself up, revealed a video tape obtained and distributed by the Interior Ministry of Pakistan on Sunday, September 21.
Speaking at Lahore airport late Sunday, September 21, Pakistani Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani said it appeared that the initial target was the Prime Minister House where key government and foreign officials attended a dinner after a joint session of parliament. Gilani said the suicide bomber apparently changed his mind due to strict security measures, and eventually choose the Marriot Hotel to detonate the explosives.
TALIBAN MILITANTS
Pakistani Officials on Sunday, September 21, blamed Pakistani ‘Taliban’ militants linked to the the ‘Al-Qaeda’ terror network for the Marriott Hotel suicide blast, which killed over 70 and left more than 260 injured. Police officials said the carnage could have been far more worse, if the attacker had not failed to get through a secondary barrier when he crashed his truck into the hotel’s security gate.
The Czech Foreign Ministry said Sunday, September 21, that the Czech ambassador to Pakistan, Ivo Zdarek, was among those killed in the suicide attack. Czech radio said he apparently died while rescuing the injured. All Pakistan’s Christian legislators including ‘All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA’s) head Shahbaz Bhatti and APMA’s regional chief and member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, were safe and sound, human rights officials said.
However the Rays of Development Organization (ROD) said in a statement to BosNewsLife that all the Christians and other minority communities of Pakistan were initially in “shock and despair” as Bhatti has been residing in the hotel for several years. "Most of Bhatti’s meetings with local and foreigners are arranged in the Marriott," ROD said without giving more details, apparently for security reasons.
AMERICAN MARINES
Pakistani police officials said some 30 American Marines were among other guests staying in the Marriot Hotel, which they claimed "might be the motive" behind the attack. Two US soldiers were reportedly killed, but their names were not identified. Other government officials said the attack may have been prompted by reports that the prime minister and president were to have a dinner at the Marriot. The venue of the dinner was later changed.
Pakistan’s government said it has formed a high level investigation team to probe the blast and security agencies reportedly held some 150 suspects from all over the country for their alleged involvement in the attack, including 6 injured militants who tried to flee. British Airways was among the first airlines to announce it temporarily stopped flights to or from Pakistan after the Marriott Hotel blast.
Following the attack security meassures were beefed up in all four provinces of Pakistan, while hospitals and rescue services were put on high alert, BosNewsLife established.
