Blah Blah from The TeaBreak Team.

UPDATE: September 21 / 06:40 AM

Statement on the Explosion at the Islamabad Marriott Hotel by Bill Marriott

At approximately 7:00 p.m. local time, an apparent car bomb exploded outside of the Islamabad Marriott in Pakistan. The bomb caused extensive damage to the front of the hotel and started a fire. Marriott International and the hotel are working with local authorities and rescue personnel to assist victims. News reports indicate numerous people were killed and injured in the blast. “We live in a dangerous world and this is a terrible tragedy. We grieve for those people who died, or were injured, and their families,” said Bill Marriott.

UPDATE: September 21 / 06:30 AM

Pakistan’s Internal Advisor, Rehman Malik has told reporters that the government was aware of a possible attack by terrorists in the capital from intelligence reports they received two days ago.

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- Suicide bomber rammed a 1000 KG explosives-laden truck into the main gate of Marriott Hotel around 8pm
- Explosion left a 25-foot deep and 30-foot wide crater
- Entire area turned to rubble
- Gas pipeline burst keeping the hotel building ablaze for hours
- Fears of Marriott building collapsing after the blast
- Buildings within a 3-km radius were damaged, including Frontier House and PTV building
- Powerful explosion heard as far as 30 kilometers away

War has come to Pakistan’s door step a long time ago. It is most unfortunate that even till yesterday, many of us denied this fact. Not any more. Not when War has pushed in to our house and is now in our living rooms, in our bedrooms, in our backyards, every where around us.

Pakistan is under attack!

1000 KG of explosives have rocked the Marriott Hotel in the capital tonight. As of this moment, some 70 people have been reported dead and close to 300 injured. This count does not include any fatalities that might still be burning bodies on the upper floors of the hotel where fires are still raging and the authorities are trying their best to douse the flames.

There are fears among officials that the building might collapse under the brunt of such a massive explosion that not only destroyed the hotel but many other buildings in its vicinity. The crater caused by the explosion is said to be 15 feet deep and 20 feet wide! That should tell you the intensity of the blast as it was.

The attack occurred hours after President Asif Ali Zardari made his first speech to parliament, pledging to fight terrorism. Pakistan is battling an Islamic insurgency that left 2,000 people dead last year and has strained the nation’s relationship with the U.S. as it and allies fight to subdue Taliban and AL-Qaeda forces in neighboring Afghanistan.

The blast occurred when an explosives-laden truck smashed into the gate of the hotel at around 8 p.m. The detonation at the most prominent U.S. business in the Pakistani capital was heard 30 kilometers (18 miles) away in neighboring Rawalpindi as well.

Some eye-witnesses who were lucky to be alive said that the suicide bomber sitting in the truck made an announcement that everyone had 3 minutes to run away and save their lives if they could. After this announcement, he also blew a siren. 3 minutes later, hell broke loose. Such a chilling account. Such is the power of these terrorists that they can drive around in trucks loaded with deadly explosives in our capital and bomb at will. In the CAPITAL of our country! Such is their boldness and their resolve that they boast openly what they are about to do taking not for a second in consideration the innocent lives they are about to take down with them.

God help us and wake this country. If we don’t do any thing decisive even after this mess, then I am afraid we deserve to be wiped off the map of this world, either by more suicide bombings or the forces (both internal and external) who want us finished!

See Also

Eyewitnesses: Pakistan Blast [ BBC ]

Massive explosion at Marriott [ Islamabad Metroblog ]

Bomb kills dozens in Pakistan [ The Independent ]

Grief and despair at the Marriott [ SBS - World News Australia ]

Another attack on Islamabad: 60+ killed [ All Things Pakistan ]

(US) Candidates on the Pakistan attack [ NY Times ]

Deadly blast targets Marriott Hotel in Islamabad [ CNN ]

Explosion at Pakistan Marriott hotel kills 40 [ Forbes ]

50 killed in Pakistan blast, death toll expected to rise [ M&C ]

   Tagged: >> I.S.L.A.M.A.B.A.D, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Blast, Death, India, Marriott, Pakistan, September 20, Suicide Bomb, Taliban, Terrorist, Tragedy, United States, US   

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