Car bomb attack in Islamabad leaves 'at least 60 dead'
Car bomb attack in Islamabad leaves at least 60 people dead
Also In The News
|
British number one Andy Murray has admitted Jurgen Melzer's pre-match comments on his ability to handle the pressure of Davis Cup have "fired him up". |  |
Saturday, 20, Sep 2008 07:50
A car bomb has detonated in Pakistan's capital Islamabad killing at least 60 people and injuring 200 more, police have said.
The explosion, which occurred just hours after president Asif Ali Zardari addressed the country's parliament, reportedly happened after a lorry reached the barricade outside the Marriot hotel this evening.
The hotel is reportedly still on fire in at least two places and dozens of vehicles have been destroyed.
Police have warned that the hotel could still collapse and there are fears the death toll could rise as many people are feared trapped inside the building.
The BBC claims the explosion created a 20ft deep crater and the entire front section of the hotel has been destroyed.
An employee at the hotel, Mohammad Sultan, told the Associated Press news agency: "I don't understand what it was, but it was like the world is finished."
The hotel is located near government buildings and popular with foreign visitors. There are unconfirmed reports that at least 200 people were in the hotel's restaurants at the time of the explosion.