A vast crater lay at the security barrier to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, after a huge truck bomb exploded there on Saturday. (New York Times Photo)Death Toll From Pakistan Hotel Blast Reaches 53
-- Yahoo News/AP
-- Yahoo News/AP
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Rescuers pulled more bodies from the shell of the truck-bombed Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital Sunday, pushing the death toll from one of the country's worst terrorist strikes to 53, including the Czech ambassador and two Americans.
The hotel, a favorite spot for foreigners and the Pakistani elite — and a previous target of militants — still smoldered from a fire that raged for hours after the previous day's explosion, which also wounded more than 250 people.
The targeting of the American hotel chain came at a time of growing anger in the Muslim nation over a wave of cross-border strikes on militant bases in Pakistan by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, though suspicion fell on al-Qaida and the Pakistani Taliban. Analysts said the attack served as a warning from Islamic militants to Pakistan's new civilian leadership to stop cooperating with the U.S.-led war on terror.
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More News On The Marriott Bombing
Bombing at Hotel in Pakistan Kills at Least 53 -- New York Times
Blast Kills Dozens in Pakistan -- Washington Post
Truck blast kills at least 60 -- Times Online
Pakistan shaken by deadly blast in capital -- L.A. Times
Terror pledge after Pakistan bomb -- BBC
At least 60 dead in Marriott Hotel bombing in Pakistan -- The Australian
Al Qaeda seen behind Pakistan carnage -- AFP
Pakistani PM Appeals to Public for Help Identifying Bombers -- Voice Of America
Islamabad Marriott Blast May Deepen Strains With U.S. (Update4) -- Bloomberg
Pakistanis bear brunt of bomb blast -- BBC
Islamabad Marriott: a luxury oasis in a troubled city -- AFP
Czech ambassador dies in Pakistan hotel blast -- International Herald Tribune
Four foreigners killed in Pakistan hotel blast -- Reuters
Bombing at Islamabad Marriott latest in string of complex terror attacks -- Long War Journal
Islamabad Bombing -- Abu Muqawama
Pakistan Bombing: CIA Officers Targeted? -- Threatswatch
My Comment: Another example of how intense the war is now becoming between Islamic extremists and the secular government in Pakistan. There is no light at the end of this tunnel.