Two Blasts Close to Bhutto's Truck During Procession

[sabra]

Source: reuters

TWO BLASTS CLOSE TO BHUTTO'S TRUCK DURING PROCESSION THROUGH KARACHI, SEVERAL WOUNDED - POLICE

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL43501.htm

---

more:

18 Oct 2007 19:19:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
BHUTTO UNHURT BY BLASTS - TV CHANNELS


http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL43501.htm


Blasts during Bhutto procession, several hurt
18 Oct 2007 19:29:59 GMT
Source: Reuters

KARACHI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Two blasts wounded several supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto as she made a triumphant procession through Karachi hours after returning home from eight years in self-imposed exile, police said on Friday.

Television channels said Bhutto was safe and had disembarked a truck that had been transporting her through roads thronged by hundreds of thousands of people on her way to a homecoming rally near the tomb of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Militants linked to al Qaeda, angered by Bhutto's support for the United States war on terrorism, had threatened to assassinate her.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL805.htm

18 Oct 2007 19:32:31 GMT
Source: Reuters

MORE THAN 20 BODIES SCATTERED CLOSE TO BLAST IN KARACHI, NUMBER OF DEAD UNKNOWN-REUTERS WITNESS

[Eugene]

1. Reuters: 20 bodies scattered round site of Pakistan blast

Source: Reuters

20 bodies scattered round site of Pakistan blast
18 Oct 2007 19:44:14 GMT
Source: Reuters

KARACHI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - More than 20 bodies lay
on the ground close to a burning car after a blast went
off during former Pakistani prime minister Benazir
Bhutto's parade through Karachi hours after her return
from self-imposed exile, a Reuters correspondent said.

The number of dead was unknown but body parts were
scattered round the scene, he said.

Link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL805.htm

[acmavm]

2. Militants linked to al Queda? Man, those guys sure get around.

[spinbaby]

6. They know this already?

How very convenient.

[MonkeyFunk]

7. It's a good guess...

Al Qaeda has threatened to assassinate her.

[spinbaby]

8. I'd venture they're not the only ones who'd like to kill her

A certain little man in a military uniform comes to mind.

[harun]

11. It is probably a pretty long list, more than just Musharaf

[spinbaby]

12. Oh, it's a very long list indeed,

which is why I wonder how they "know" it's Al Qaida.

[saigon68]

13. Its always ossama or al Kaida or the terrists

[subsuelo]

33. maybe they found a passport nearby

[maddezmom]

3. 2 blasts hit near Bhutto in Pakistan , CNN reporting 30 people dead

2 blasts hit near Bhutto in Pakistan By PAISLEY DODDS, Associated Press Writer
11 minutes ago



KARACHI, Pakistan - Two explosions went off Thursday night near the truck carrying former premier Benazir Bhutto during her procession through Karachi, wounding several people, police said.

No one on the truck carrying Bhutto was hurt, police officer Hasib Beg said.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Benazir Bhutto made a dramatic return to Pakistan on Thursday, ending eight years of exile to reclaim a share of power with the country's U.S.-backed military leader. More than 150,000 jubilant supporters gathered to greet her amid massive security.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/ap_on_re_as/pakistan;_ylt=AvK_MUlKjo7gGw8XttS4OkJvaA8F

[MonkeyFunk]

4. It's pretty gruesome...

the nets have video of one explosion.

The streets were PACKED and a large bomb went off.

[pkz]

5. CNN~ River of blood flowing in streets

body parts everywhere...yikes! they are so graphic
This is horrible.

[saigon68]

10. Welcome to Pak-Nam

Another country, our sons and daughters will soon enter for Halliburton Profits

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ilsa]

14. At least 30 dead per CNN. nt

[Newsjock]

15. AFP: 78 dead, 151 injured

Per the scroll on BBC World

[Eugene]

16. AP: 108 Die in Blasts Near Bhutto in Karachi

Source: Associated Press

108 Die in Blasts Near Bhutto in Karachi

Thursday October 18, 2007 10:31 PM

By PAISLEY DODDS

Associated Press Writer

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Two bombs exploded Thursday
night near a truck carrying former Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto on her triumphant return to Pakistan after eight
years in exile, killing at least 108 people and wounding
150, an official said. Party workers and police said
Bhutto was unhurt.

Associated Press photographer B.K. Bangash at the
scene said he saw between 50 and 60 dead or badly
injured people. He said some of the bodies were ripped
apart.

An initial small explosion was followed by a huge blast
just feet from the front of the truck carrying Bhutto
during a procession through Karachi. The blast shattered
windows in her vehicle and set a police escort vehicle
on fire.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7007034,00.html

---

Update: DEATH TOLL FROM KARACHI BLASTS RISES TO 115 - Reuters (AlertNet)

[meegbear]

17. 78 dead in blasts near Bhutto's convoy in Pakistan

Source: CNN

Two explosions killed at least 78 people and injured at least 80 Thursday night near a motorcade carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who returned to the country earlier in the day after eight years of self-imposed exile, police sources told CNN.

Bhutto and those with her were uninjured, and her companions said she reached her family home safely. Video footage shows her exiting the vehicle after the blasts.

"I can see body parts strewn all over the road," said CNN's Dan Rivers, at the scene. "There are dead bodies everywhere. ... It is a large-scale attack, by the looks of things."

The death toll is likely to rise, officials said

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/18/pakistan.explosions/index.html

[maxsolomon]

18. raise your hand if you're surprised

could be musharraf, could be islamist militants, could be both.

[tekisui]

19. Who will hold together a Pakistani Civil War?

It seems that they are headed that direction.

[Flabbergasted]

20. My bets on Musharraf. I don't see what threat Bhutto is to anyone else.

Bhutto takes credit for helping pressure Musharraf into a pledge to give up his post as army chief before being inaugurated in mid-November to a new term as president. But many wonder whether he will keep that pledge.

It is widely feared that the general will impose martial law if the Supreme Court rules that his Oct. 6 re-election by lawmakers was invalid. Opponents said the vote should not have been held while Musharraf continued in his role as head of the military.

[ohio2007]

21. Taliban hate women.....they said they were gunning for HER. eom

[monktonman]

24. You forgot Al - CIA da.

Pretty frickin stupid too.
Some estimate the crowd to be near a million people.
Sounds a bit far-fetched but none the less,
now you've got a million people pissed off at you.
pretty dumb if you ask me.

[tuckessee]

31. I'd lean towards both.

ISI provactuers agitating & enabling genuine militants.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

22. Though predictable, this is Big News

[ileus]

23. Bushco operation no doubt...

[brentspeak]

25. Uh, ok...

[...of J.Temperance]

26. Saw this on the news

What a terrible and depressing situation it is.

Benazir Bhutto is an immensly brave woman to stay in Pakistan after this, I really admire her guts, and I fear for her safety.

She was probably one of the best Pakistani Prime Minister's, and one would hope, the most inspirational to Pakistani women.

I wish her good luck....and I hope that this doesn't all turn out like Indira Ghandi.

[DeepModem Mom]

27. Bomb Attack Kills Scores in Pakistan as Bhutto Arrives

Source: New York Times

By CARLOTTA GALL and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: October 19, 2007

KARACHI, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 19 — Two bombs exploded Thursday just seconds apart and feet from a truck carrying the returning opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, narrowly missing her but killing scores of people and bloodying her triumphal homecoming after eight years in exile.

Various reports said 126 were killed and some 250 wounded, including civilians and party workers. In the initial chaos, however, the Interior Ministry could confirm only 70 deaths.

Ms. Bhutto, who had spent eight hours on the roof of the truck behind a bulletproof shield waving to supporters, had climbed inside the armored vehicle 10 minutes before the blasts occurred just before midnight, said Rehman Malik, her security adviser and close associate.

She was immediately taken to Bilawal House, her home in Karachi. The parade through the city had been scheduled to end at the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Ms. Bhutto’s arrival at 2 p.m. had drawn huge crowds, perhaps 200,000 or more, who danced on top of buses and surged forward as she inched her way for hours through her home city....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/world/asia/19pakistan.html?hp

[bullimiami]

28. well thats not suspicious at all is it.

[cigsandcoffee]

29. That's horrific.

Somebody needs to stop the madness. What a waste of life.

[rodeodance]

30. Blasts Near Bhutto Kill 126 in Pakistan

Source: sfgate




Blasts Near Bhutto Kill 126 in Pakistan

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON and PAISLEY DODDS, Associated Press Writers

Thursday, October 18, 2007


(10-18) 20:53 PDT KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) --

A suicide bombing in a crowd welcoming former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto killed up to 126 people Thursday night, shattering her celebratory procession through Pakistan's biggest city after eight years in exile.

Two explosions — a grenade followed by a suicide blast — struck near a truck carrying Bhutto, but police and officials of her party said she was not injured and was hurried to her house. An Associated Press photo showed a dazed-looking Bhutto being helped away.

Officials at six hospitals reported 126 dead and 248 wounded. Police chief Azhar Farooqi put the death toll at 113, including 20 police, with 300 people wounded. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the differences. But it was believed to be the deadliest bomb attack in Pakistan's history.

Bhutto flew home to lead her Pakistan People's Party in January parliamentary elections, drawing cheers from supporters massed in a sea of the party's red, green and black flags. Police said 150,000 were in the streets, while other onlookers estimated twice that..........

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/10/17/international/i010705D00.DTL&type=printable

[razzleberry]

32. why would a small bomb be set off first?

which would allow time for
security to protect VIPs.

[TheBaldyMan]

37. it allows a crowd to gather before a second device is triggered

sick but true.

The second blast gets emergency rescue workers, police and bomb disposal experts. Most populationa familiar with bombing campaigns learn very quickly not to linger in the area that has just been bombed.

[TheBaldyMan]

34. BBC: Attack on Bhutto convoy kills 130

Source: BBC News website

At least 130 people were killed when two bombs exploded among crowds in Karachi celebrating the return of the former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto.

Ms Bhutto, who was travelling from the city's airport to a rally marking her homecoming after eight years in self-imposed exile, was not hurt.

The truck carrying her had its windows shattered and a door blown off.

The attacks on the motorcade happened despite a heavy security presence following threats from militant groups.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7051804.stm

---

Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan after a deal was reached with the Musharaff regime to avoid prosecution for corruption charges prior to her ousting from office by Musharaf in 1999. Her motorcade was bombed en route from the airport amidst celebrations in honour of her return to Pakistan.

Her husband has blamed elements within the Musharaf regime for the attack.

[Maccagirl]

35. If civil war breaks out in Pakistan

we're all screwed.

[theHandpuppet]

36. Nah, there's no division in Pakistan

After all, Mushareff got 98% of the vote! :sarcasm: