News Digest | Deadly Bombing at Islamabad Marriott

Around 8 p.m. local time in Islamabad on Saturday, Pakistan outside of the popular Marriott Hotel, a truck carrying more than half a ton of explosives erupted in flames and minutes later exploded, killing at least 53 and wounding 266. Security camera footage released to the news media yesterday showed the truck’s front end catching fire, followed by several gunshots and security guards fleeing the scene. One guard returned to extinguish the fire, the explosion happened moments later. The 1,300 ton explosion left a 60 ft. wide and 24 ft. deep crater out-front of the hotel.  No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing; however, many believe this to be the work of the Pakistani militants. When Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik was asked to comment on who he believed was responsible, he said, "I am not in a position to tell you who has done it, but [in] all the previous investigations, all the roads have gone to South Waziristan.” It is believed the bombings were an attempt to destabilize the country in light of the new democratically elected civilian government and meant as retaliation against recent U.S. and Pakistani military activity in the FATA. President Zardari has publically vowed to fight militants and secure Pakistan’s borders. Amir Haider Khan Hoti, the chief minister of the North-West Frontier Province stated, “There should be no letup now in fighting those who do not believe in negotiations and are bent upon causing destruction.”