Mohammed Khan
Posted on 09/21/2008 10:45:11 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Pakistan on Sunday blamed Al-Qaeda linked Taliban militants for the massive suicide truck bombing at the Marriott Hotel that killed at least 60 people and injured more than 260.
Dramatic footage of Saturday night's attack showed the carnage could have been far worse, but the attacker failed to get through a secondary barrier when he crashed his explosives-laden truck into the hotel's security gates.
The interior ministry said the truck was packed with 600 kilos (1,300 pounds) of explosives, and pointed a finger at Taliban militants allied with Al-Qaeda who are based in the remote areas along the border with Afghanistan.
"All roads lead to Fata," ministry official Rehman Mailk told a news conference, using the acronym for the rugged tribal areas that have become a safe-haven for militants despite an army campaign to root them out.
"It has the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda," a senior official involved in the investigation told AFP. "It was an Al-Qaeda style bombing."
Several security officials said at least 60 people were killed in the carnage . Malik put the number confirmed so far at 53 dead and 266 injured.
Rescuers were continuing to pick through the rubble of the hotel, which was all but destroyed in the massive blast -- heard for miles around -- and a subsequent fire that swept through the 300-room hotel.
Some bodies pulled from the debris were burnt beyond recognition.
Czech ambassador Ivo Zdarek, who was living at the hotel, was among the dead.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Bit of news.
Yep maybe this will wake up Pakistan and a few American voters too.
Could this bombing be related to the trial of Aafia Siddiqui, who is in NY, facing multiple charges of attempted murder of US officials? She is accused of having been a member of a U.S. sleeper cell of Al Qaeda.
My husband has been following the case because the head of the Islamic lobby group in Seattle is also named Siddiqui. We have yet to find any connection, though. Her ex-husband’s name was Khan and he lives in Karachi. She was brought back from Pakistan to stand trial. The case is extremely high profile among Al Qaeda and pro-Islamic activists.
If they're smart they'll say: okay, you can follow them into our territory and take em out.
The same thing happened in Saudi Arabia several years back.
I blame Pakistan as it claims to be a sovereign country and these are likely acts of citizens.
Why not hit here then?
What about McVeigh then?
When playing with snakes beware they can bite......
Simply because it is not as easy to hit here as it is to hit the Marriott in Pakistan, and at the same time, it sends a message to the Pakistanis that Al Qaeda is strong and active where they live and co-operating with the US is dangerous.
I have met many Pakistani and they are not to be taken lightly. They will fight when pressed and they can be as tough as the Turks in a battle.
Mohammed Khan
Tim McVeigh hit us pretty easily. I like to think our intelligence is so good that it won’t happen here but that is mostly wishful thinking. Car bombs aren’t that difficult.
Yes, that’s her husband, but the Seattle Islamic activist could be a blood relation. The Siddiqui family seems to be very large and has included many powerful activists.
The Khans are a wealthy, powerful family as well. Her husband is said to live in a large family compound.
The Seattle activist is Jeff Siddiqui, an Obama elector at the convention. The name just keeps popping up.
Good luck with the search of the Seattle group.
Thanks Eva
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