October 18, 2007

Al-Qaeda Assassination Attempt on Bhutto

Two apparent car bombs exploded just feet from the truck carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister Benezir Bhutto as she returned from exile today. Al-Qaeda terrorists, who had threatened to kill her earlier for her support of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, are the likely suspects. Via MSNBC:

KARACHI, Pakistan - Two explosions went off Thursday night near a truck carrying former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on her celebratory return to Pakistan after eight years in exile. Police said she was unhurt, but officials and witnesses said up to 45 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.

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. Neither Bhutto nor any of the others riding on the truck was hurt, police officer Hasib Beg said.

Karachi police chief Azhar Farooqi told Dawn News that Bhutto was rushed from the area under emergency plans prepared ahead of her return.

[. . .]

Footage of the scene showed several motorcycles laying on their sides. Flames burned in the center of the street after the explosions. Scores of people, mostly men wearing white robes, fled down the street after the blast.

The truck carrying Bhutto was designed to withstand a blast attack.

Bhutto had stood in plain view on top of the vehicle, ignoring police advice to stay behind its protective glass, as the vehicle edged through crowds. More than 150,000 jubilant supporters had surrounded the convoy carrying Bhutto amid massive security in Karachi.

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

Last month, Osama bin Laden issued a call to jihad against Pakistan in retaliation for staging a deadly raid that ended the siege of the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, which militants had taken over in July.

UPDATE: Death Count Up to 93

UPDATE II: Video not working now, I'll try to find another one. I'll leave this one up for now in case the link is just busy.

UPDATE III: Here's a link to CNN's video of the blast

UPDATE IV: Video beneath the fold.

UPDATE V: Bhutto's husband blames Pakistani Intelligence Bureau for attack.