The Taliban and al Qaeda continue their efforts to halt the South Waziristan military offensive by blowing up civilian and military targets in major Pakistani cities as this morning, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle set off his explosives in Rawalpindi killing at least 30 people and injuring 45.
From the article at DAWN:
This, of course, is another of the string of attacks that have been aimed at trying to get public opinion swayed against the offensive in South Waziristan - so far, these attacks have only enraged the Pakistani government more, rather than convincing them to halt the offensive. And hopefully that will continue to be the case. No one has claimed responsibility for this attack yet but it is a common tactic of the Taliban to use suicide bombers on motorcycles.
From the article at DAWN:
According to reports, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the vicinity of the busy Mall Road, in the high-security area of Rawalpindi Cantt. Major hotels, including the Pearl Continental, as well as other important government and army installations are located in the area where the blast occurred.
The attacker rode a motorbike to the scene, and the 30 people dead included military personnel, Rawalpindi police chief Rao Iqbal said. Some 45 others were wounded, he said.
This, of course, is another of the string of attacks that have been aimed at trying to get public opinion swayed against the offensive in South Waziristan - so far, these attacks have only enraged the Pakistani government more, rather than convincing them to halt the offensive. And hopefully that will continue to be the case. No one has claimed responsibility for this attack yet but it is a common tactic of the Taliban to use suicide bombers on motorcycles.
Huge blast hits Rawalpindi safe zone; 30 killed
RAWALPINDI: An explosion occurred on Rawalpindi’s busy Mall Road on Monday. At least 30 people were killed, while more than 45 were reportedly injured.
According to reports, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the vicinity of the busy Mall Road, in the high-security area of Rawalpindi Cantt. Major hotels, including the Pearl Continental, as well as other important government and army installations are located in the area where the blast occurred.
Monday's explosion left bodies on the ground outside the bank and in a nearby hotel parking lot, witness Zahid Dara said. The stricken area also lies close to the army's main headquarters.
‘I was nearby and rushed toward the parking area,’ Dara told a private television channel. ‘There were many people lying on the ground with bleeding wounds, and a motorcycle was on fire with one man under it.’
The attacker rode a motorbike to the scene, and the 30 people dead included military personnel, Rawalpindi police chief Rao Iqbal said. Some 45 others were wounded, he said.
‘The bodies were lying all over,’ said Ali Babar, a rescue official who was doing a refresher course at a nearby college and rushed to the scene to help. ‘This is a terrible thing. It is happening again and again.’
The intensity of the blast left numerous buildings in the area with shattered windows. Vehicles parked in the area were also damaged.
Rescue work was underway and the injured were being shifted to hospitals.
The government declared an emergency in hospitals across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Security forces also cordoned off the area, while military personnel also arrived at the site of the blast.
The attack comes amidst a deadly wave of terrorist attacks which have killed over 190 in the last month.
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