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Blast In Pakistan Capital Kills 40

Bombing leaves 33' crater

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2008 12:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – A suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives into a Marriott in Islamabad today, completely destroying it, the Washington Post reports. At least 40 are confirmed dead, and 200 injured, but police expect those numbers to rise; unconfirmed reports say more than 1,000 people were in the hotel during the attack. The hotel stood just blocks from major government buildings.

Witnesses say a small car burst through the gates of the heavily-guarded hotel, making way for the explosives-laden truck. The blast set off a natural gas fire on the upper floors, which quickly engulfed the entire structure. Just hours earlier, new president Asif Ali Zardari had pledged to free Pakistan from the “shackles of terrorism” in his first speech before Parliament.

A view of the  estimated 33 feet deep crater caused by a bomb explosion at Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sept 20, 2008.
A view of the estimated 33 feet deep crater caused by a bomb explosion at Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sept 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)
A view of destruction caused by bomb explosion at Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan Saturday, Sept 20, 2008.
A view of destruction caused by bomb explosion at Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan Saturday, Sept 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)
In this image made from television, the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, is seen following a large explosion late Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.
In this image made from television, the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, is seen following a large explosion late Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/AAJ TV via APTN)
In this image made from television, the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, is seen following a large explosion late Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.
In this image made from television, the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, is seen following a large explosion late Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/AAJ TV via APTN)
People carry an injured person after a bomb explosion at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.
People carry an injured person after a bomb explosion at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)
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