Blast in Islamabad hotel, at least 40 dead

In one of the biggest ever terrorist attacks in Pakistan, a suicide car bomb explosion outside the Marriott Hotel in the capital Islamabad left at least 40 dead and leaving many more trapped in the hotel, a television channel reported.

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 on Saturday evening.

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Marriott Hotel is usual hotel choice of foreign tourists and of course high profile officials, hence 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.

The incident occurred when an explosives laden truck rammed the gate at the Marriott Hotel causing a powerful explosion which left many parts of the building damaged and burnt.

The attack occurred after the newly elected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech in the Parliament in which he criticised US raid in some parts of Pakistan targeting militants pledging that Pakistan would not tolerate any infringement of its territory in the name of the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan has been facing a wave of terrorist strikes in the recent days worsening the stand of newly formed Zardari government amid internal as well as external crisis.

Earlier in the day, at least 10 Pakistani security personnel have been killed and several others have been wounded when their convoy was targeted by a suicide bomber on Bannu Road in North Waziristan.