Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing

Infobox civilian attack
title = Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing

---

caption = View of the hotel after the attack
location = Islamabad, Pakistan
coordinates = coord|display=inline,title|33.7328|73.0871
date = 20 September 2008
time = 19:56. [The Bihar Times [http://bihartimes.com/NewsAll/2008/Sep/NewsAll21Sep14.html 60 killed in Islamabad suicide attack] . Retrieved 2008-09-21]
timezone = UTC+6
type = Suicide truck bombing
fatalities = 54 [cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD93GH45O1|title=Suicide attacks kill 1,188 in Pakistan since '07|date=29 September 2008|publisher=Associated Press|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-29]
injuries = 266 cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Bomb_rocks_Islamabad_hotel_at_least_60_dead/articleshow/3507428.cms|title=Bomb rocks Islamabad hotel, at least 60 dead|date=20 September 2008|publisher=Times of India|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-21]
perps =
perp =
susperps =several theories
susperp =
weapons =
motive = The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on 20 September 2008, when a dump truck filled with explosives detonated in front of the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, killing at least 54, injuring at least 266 and leaving a 60 ft (20 m) wide, 20 ft (6 m) deep crater outside the hotel.cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/world/asia/22marriott.html|title=More Bodies Pulled From Hotel Rubble in Pakistan|date=21 September 2008|publisher=New York Times|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-21] The majority of the casualties are believed to be Pakistanis; although about fifteen foreigners have also been reported injured. The attack occurred mere hours after President Asif Ali Zardari made his first speech to parliament. [cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGroV1kZFKdw&refer=home|title=Islamabad Marriott Hotel Blast Leaves 40 People Dead|date=2008-09-20|publisher=Bloomberg|last=Rupert|first=James|coauthors=Farhan Sharif] The Marriott was the most prestigious hotel in the capital, located near government buildings and diplomatic missions. It was popular with foreigners and the Pakistani elite. The hotel had previously been the target of militants. In 2007, a suicide bomber killed himself and another person in an attack at the hotel.

Attack

The blast caused a natural gas leak that set the top floor of the five-story, 258-room hotel on fire, police said. The massive explosion was heard 15 kilometres away. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7627584.stm news.bbc.co.uk, Islamabad's 'message from Hell'] ] The blaze that followed quickly engulfed the entire structure of the hotel. About two-thirds of the building caught fire as a result of the explosion after a natural gas pipe was blown open, and the reception area was completely destroyed.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Dozens killed in Pakistan attack |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7627135.stm |work= bbc.co.uk |publisher= |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-20 ] cite news |author=Agence France-Presse|title= US national among 60 dead in Pakistan blast: officials |url= http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080920185856.xcg16mq2&show_article=1|publisher=Breitbart.com|date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-20 ] cite news
url=http://nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-pakistan-blast.html
title=At Least 40 Killed in Huge Explosion at Pakistan Hotel
publisher=Reuters/The New York Times
date=2008-09-20
accessdate=2008-09-20] cite news
url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/20/pakistan.islamabad.marriott.blast/
title=Deadly blast targets Marriott Hotel in Islamabad
publisher=CNN
date=2008-09-20
accessdate=2008-09-20] cite news |author=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|title= EU Condemns Bombing of Luxury Hotel in Pakistan |url= http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3659562,00.html|publisher=Deustche Welle|date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-20]

The owner of the hotel, Hashoo Group, [cite web|url=http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?182629|title=Hashoo group opens PC hotel in Muzaffarabad|date=30 June 2007 |publisher=Pakistan Tribune|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-21] owned by Sadruddin Hashwani, who is an Ismaili Shia, [cite web|url=http://ismaili.net/Source/mumtaz/Heroes1/hero092.html |title=Sadruddin Hashwani, Varas |publisher=Ismaili.net |date= |accessdate=2008-09-23] [cite web|url=http://www.urbanpk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=252|title=INTERVIEW: Sadruddin Hashwani Chairman of Hashoo Group|date=21 September 2008|publisher=New York Times|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-21] said the truck carrying the bomb had been stopped at the front barrier. "Some shots were fired. One of our guards fired back, and in the meantime he detonated all the explosives. All the guards on the gate died," said hotel owner Sadruddin Hashwani. [cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSLK18396120080920|title=Truck bomber kills at least 43 at Islamabad hotel|last=Haider|first=Kamran |date=20 September 2008|publisher=Reuters|pages=4|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-21]

After the attack, vans were temporarily banned from entering the capital territory.Fact|date=September 2008

Most of the dead were Pakistani, but foreigners also died. Two American military personnelcite news
url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/21/pakistan.islamabad.marriott.blast/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
title= Ambassador among hotel bomb victims
publisher=CNN
date=2008-09-21
accessdate=2008-09-21] and a Danish intelligence agent [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/25/europe/EU-Denmark-Pakistan.php] were killed, and a U.S. State Department employee was missing and presumed dead. [http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080921/n_world_reuters/international_pakistan_blast_dc Al Qaeda suspected of Pakistan's Marriott bombing] The Czech ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Ivo Žďárek, also died in the ensuing fire along with his Vietnamese companion. Although Žďárek had survived the initial blast, he returned to the hotel to help in the rescue effort but was trapped in the burning building.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Czech envoy died helping blast victims, flown to country |url= http://www.aaj.tv/news/National/117444_detail.html |work=AAJ TV |publisher= |date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2008-09-22 ] cite news
url=http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/807140.html
title=Hapless guards stopped Islamabad truck bomb, but didn't know what to do next
publisher=McClatchy Newspapers/Kansas City Star
first=Saeed
last=Shah
accessdate=2008-09-21] In addition, six Germans, four Britons and a Filipina receptionist from the hotel [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/121858/Filipina-among-those-injured-in-Pakistan-hotel-bombing gmanews.tv, Pinay among those hurt in Pakistan bombing] ] were among the injured.cite news
url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLK18396120080921?sp=true
title=Truck bomber kills at least 46 at Islamabad hotel
publisher=Reuters
date=2008-09-21
accessdate=2008-09-21]

Pakistani leadership was scheduled to meet at the hotel

Pakistan's top leaders were to have been in the Islamabad Marriott hotel when it was bombed - but changed their plans at the last minute, and gathered instead at a dinner at the Prime Minister's house, a few hundred yards from the explosion, following a parliamentary address by President Asif Ali Zardari. "The national assembly speaker had arranged a dinner for the entire leadership - for the president, prime minister and armed services chiefs - at the Marriott that day," the Interior ministry head, Rehman Malik, told reporters. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7628964.stm Pakistan leaders' 'narrow escape'] - "BBC news, 22 September 2008]

However, the hotel owner, Sadruddin Hashwani, denied that such a meeting had ever been scheduled to take place. [cite news |first= |last= |title=Pakistan and America: How to beat the terrorists? |url=http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12284547&fsrc=rss |publisher=The Economist |date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-23 ] According to a spokesman for Hashwani, "We didn't have any reservation for such a dinner that the government official is talking about." [cite news |first= |last= |title=Pakistan Leaders 'Saved' by Venue Change |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122209790230863109.html?mod=fox_australian |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-24 ]

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said both Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the attack and vowed their determination to deal with terrorism,cite news |first=Carlotta |last=Gall |title=At Least 40 Are Killed in Blast at Pakistan Hotel |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/world/asia/21islamabad.html?hp |publisher=The New York Times |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-20] with Law Minister Farooq Naek stating "this is Pakistan's nine-eleven". [cite news |first=Farooq |last=Naek |title=Dozens die in Islamabad hotel bombing - 21 8 September |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBPpyLpN7gg |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=2008-09-21 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]

Explosives used

Government advisor Rehman Malik said RDX and TNT were used in the attack. [Geo TV. [http://www.geo.tv/9-21-2008/25363.htm Marriot blast: 4 foreigners among 53 dead] . 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2008-09-21]

Approximately 600 kg of RDX was mixed with TNT (Torpex or H6) and a mixture of mortar and other ammunition to increase the explosive capacity. Aluminum powder was also mixed with the material to further enhance this capability. Torpex is about fifty percent more powerful than TNT by weight. [Geo TV Pakistan. Monday, 21 September 2008] The blast was heard for many miles throughout the capital.

Guards were first alerted by a minor blast, which was followed by the much larger explosion about four minutes later. [cite news |first= |last= |title=Pakistan and America: How to beat the terrorists? |url=http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12284547&fsrc=rss |publisher=The Economist |date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-23 ]

"Delay switches" might also have been used. [cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/22/top11.htm |title=Lone suicide bomber carried out blast: report -DAWN - Top Stories; September 22, 2008 |publisher=Dawn.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-23]

Video of the attack

Pakistan released the CCTV footage of the attack at a press conference saying that a six-wheeled dumper truck filled with explosives and an accelerant pulled up at the gate and first caught fire before exploding a few minutes later. [Al Jazeera English. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1KYKslZY8s Video emerges of Marriott bombing - 21 Sept 08] . (AlJazeera's YouTube channel) Retrieved 2008-09-21]

American presence

An unnamed senior security official stated that about 30 U.S. Marines, scheduled to go to Afghanistan, were staying at the hotel, and they were believed to be the targets of the bombing. This conflicted with information given by another unnamed official who stated that the marines were in Pakistan in connection with the visit by US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen who met the Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and other government officials on Wednesday [cite news |first= Tariq |last= Butt |title= Marriott Marines mystery |url= http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2008092217919 |work= Saudi Gazette |date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2008-09-22 ] The personnel were staying on the fourth floor of the hotel, which also the most severely damaged by the fire which ensued following the bomb blast.cite news |title= US Marines could have been the Marriott target |url= http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/409071/cs/1/ |work= Malaysia Sun |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ] According to the "Dawn", a number of the marines who stayed at the hotel sustained injuries; the newspaper also cited an unnamed law enforcement official stating "personnel of a US security agency" were in all likelihood the target of the attack. [cite news |author= Asghar, Raja; Raza, Irfan; Asghar, Muhammad; Azeem, Munawer |title= Terror tears through capital |url= http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/21/top1.htm |work= Dawn |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ] There are also reports that more Americans were present at the hotel, as several senior CIA officers were visiting Islamabad at the time of the attack and believed to be staying at the hotel, according to unnamed "well placed sources". [cite news |title= Senior CIA officers were target of Islamabad blast |url= http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/senior-cia-officers-were-target-of-islamabad-blast_10097943.html |work= Thaindian News |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]

Claims of US soldiers breaching security

A MP for the ruling Pakistan People's Party, Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani, has come forward with testimony evidencing a purportedly serious security breach at the Marriott on the night between the 16th and 17th, several days before the bombing.cite news |first= Ansar |last= Abbasi |authorlink= Ansar Abbasi |title= Was it an attack on US Marines? |url= http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17401 |work= The News International |date=2008-09-21 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Pakistan’s 9/11 Targeted US Marines |url= http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=163872 |work= IslamOnline |publisher= |date=2008-09-21 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ] cite news |first= Ansar |last= Abbasi |authorlink= Ansar Abbasi |title= Americans’ presence at Marriott not a secret: US embassy |url= http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17445 |work= The News International |date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ] [cite news |title= Mystery Shrouds Pakistan Iron Boxes |url= http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={9F160656-4FDE-4706-83D4-8267FD8D2A9C})&language=EN |work= Prensa Latina |publisher= |date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-23 ] Alam Gillani and two friends are said to have witnessed several large steel boxes being unloaded from a US Embassy truck by a group of US Marines and, according to someone at the hotel, transported to the fourth and fifth floors. Among the several people who witnessed this incident was PPP leader Sajjad Chaudhry. However, Alam Gilani was the only one who objected to and protested the apparent security breach taking place, but was met with silence from the American Marines. The hotel security staff did not respond to Alam Gilani's protests as they passively watched what was taking place, not being allowed to go near the boxes by the US Marines. Alam Gillani has since denounced the newspaper account, asserting that he was merely making light conversation with the journalist, however, the newspaper stands by its account.cite news |title= MNA threatens to sue journalist |url= http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17453 |work= The News International |date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ] and Pakistani authorities are investigating this issue.

The American Embassy has said that it routinely rents rooms at the Marriott. Confronted with the activities of the US Marines on the night between September 16 and 17, embassy spokesperson Lou Fintor stated: "A team of support personnel often and routinely precede and/or accompany certain US government officials. They often carry communication and office equipment required to support large delegations, such as high-level administration officials and members of the US Congress." However, the incident occurred after Admiral Mullen's departure.

Consequences

President Asif Ali Zardari was considering delaying his visit to the US to attend the UN General Assembly session in the wake of the bombing. MP Ayaz Amir said that he felt that the president should cancel his visit given the circumstances, and instead should combat terrorism and extremism. He added, "I believe that the UN General Assembly annual session is the most useless event in the world where leaders go to listen their own speeches." [Sindh Today. [http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/22270.htm Marriot blast: Zardari may delay US visit] . 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2009-09-21]

Due to the attack, British Airways suspended flights to Pakistan as a precautionary measure "until further notice." [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7627791.stm Rescuers comb Pakistan bomb hotel] ." "BBC". 21 September 2008.]

Terror pledge

The BBC reported that Pakistan was an important ally of the United States in its "war on terror", but that it had disagreements over tactics and had complained about US raids from Afghanistan.BBC news. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7627626.stm news.bbc.co.uk, Terror pledge after Pakistan bomb] . 2008-09-21] Following an apparent power vacuum as a result of the stepping down of former president Pervez Musharraf earlier in the month, U.S. missile-strikes had increased, culminating in the Baghar Cheena airstrike on 17 September. [Barry Newhouse . [http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-09-08-voa15.cfm Suspected US Missile Strike Hits Taliban Commander's House] - "Voice of America", 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-21] After the event, president Asif Ali Zardari appealed for "all democratic forces" to help to save Pakistan and he pledged to rid Pakistan of Islamic militants: "Terrorism is a cancer in Pakistan, we are determined, God willing, we will rid the country of this cancer. I promise you that such actions by these cowards will not lower our resolve." Pakistan's chief adviser on internal security, Rehman Malik, said "the authorities would fight on until the last terrorist is cleared. We think that the safe Pakistan, safe Afghanistan is safety for the world and therefore we will not let them have easy way."

Possible perpetrators

A Taliban spokesperson denied the group's involvement in the blast, saying they "do not believe in killing so many locals." [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Taliban denies role in hotel attack
work =
pages =
language = English
publisher = Al Jazeera
date = 2008-09-22
url = http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/09/200892292555709354.html
accessdate = 2008-09-22]

An American intelligence official stated that the attack “bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist operation carried out by Al Qaeda or its associates.”cite news |author=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|title= EU Condemns Bombing of Luxury Hotel in Pakistan |url= http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3659562,00.html|publisher=Deustche Welle|date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-20]

Some investigators suspect an Islamist group, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, is responsible for the attack based upon the similarities between this incident and four previous attacks allegedly conducted by its operatives. [cite news |first= B.|last=Rahman|title= The Marriott Blast: Was Denmark The Target? - International Terrorism Monitor: Paper No. 449 |url= http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers29%5Cpaper2853.html|publisher=South Asia Analysis Group|date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2008-09-22]

Dubai-based Arabiya Television says a group calling itself "Fedayeen Islam"http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/52928.html Pakistan hit by smaller attacks, killing at last 10] cite news |first= Firouz|last=Sedarat| coauthors = M. Jones|title= UPDATE 2-Little-known Islamic group claims Pakistan attack |url= http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINLM3375020080922|publisher=Reuters|date=2008-09-23 |accessdate=2008-09-23] (also spelled "Fedayan-i-Islam" [cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/23/top6.htm |title=‘Fedayeen’ claims responsibility -DAWN - Top Stories; September 23, 2008 |publisher=Dawn.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-23] ), variously translated as "Islamic Commandos" or "Islamic Patriots" has called Arabiya's correspondent in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The correspondent said he received a text message on his mobile phone showing a telephone number. He said he called the number and then heard a recording in which the group admitted launching Saturday's attack. The Arabiya television correspondent says the speaker spoke in English with a South Asian accent. The Fedayeen Islam group has issued several demands including for Pakistan to stop its cooperation with the United States.. It is not known whether any sources have equated this group with the Iranian Islamic Terrorist organization called Fadayan-e Islam ("Devotees of Islam") (or even speculated about this) last known to have been active during the Iranian revolution.

Many people are of the view that a foreign power is involved in the attacks in some way. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = 'We are all in pain and agony'
work =
pages =
language = English
publisher = BBC
date = 2008-09-22
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7628857.stm
accessdate = 2008-09-23]

International reactions

tate entities

Non-state entities

ee also

*List of terrorist incidents, 2008
*War in North-West Pakistan

References

External links

* [http://www.blogs.marriott.com/default.asp?item=2264352 Statement on the Explosion at the Islamabad Marriott Hotel] - Marriott.com - Bill Marriott's blog entry about the hotel disaster
* [http://www.travel-culture.com/pakistan/ht/Islamabad_Marriott_hotel.shtml Post-Blast] Pictures from the scene of the attack