Suspected suicide bomber, guard killed in Pakistan hotel blast (Marriot)

[maddezmom]

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - A suspected suicide bomber and a security guard have been killed in a blast at the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital.


"It is a suicide attack, the man approached the entrance and he was apparently stopped by the guard when the explosion occurred. The guard was also killed," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070126/ts_afp/pakistanattacksblast_070126102003

Two killed in suicide attack in Pakistani capital

~snip~

"It was a suicide attack. The bomber and one security official of the hotel was killed," Sherpao told Reuters.

At least six people were wounded, according to another Pakistani official.

Police cordoned off the area and sirens wailed through the district, where many government buildings are located.

The Marriott is one of Islamabad's main hotels, and is frequented by foreign diplomats and businessmen.

The U.S. embassy barred staff from visiting the hotel after a small blast in the lobby in October, 2004.

link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL54068.htm

[Ian David]

1. They need to stop showing The Fox Noise Channel in the lobby. n/t

[Eugene]

2. AFP: Pakistan probes Taliban link to Marriott bombing

Pakistan probes Taliban link to Marriott bombing

by Rana Jawad

Fri Jan 26, 10:12 PM ET

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Investigators probing a suicide blast at a top hotel in Pakistan's
capital said Saturday they are looking at possible links to pro-Taliban extremists
fighting government forces near the Afghan border.

-snip-

"We suspect (the attack) could be by militants opposed to the government's drive
against Taliban elements in the tribal regions," a senior security official said
on condition of anonymity.

The official said the bomber appeared to be ill-trained and poorly briefed, with poor
intelligence about the hotel, which suggested he was from the northwestern tribal
belt rather than being affiliated to better-funded sectarian groups.

-snip-

The pattern of the bombing closely resembled suicide bombings in Afghanistan, where
scores of such attacks last year blamed on the Taliban did not cause widespread
damage and killed mostly the bombers, he added.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070127/ts_afp/pakistanattacksblast_070127022058