Death toll rises to 53 in car-bomb attack at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad in Pakistan

Islamabad, Sept 21 PPI: At least 53 people including Czech ambassador to Pakistan Ivo Zdarek were killed and 286 others in deadly suicide bomb attack on Hotel Marriott, Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Briefing the media, Advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister for Interior Rehman Malik
Sunday confirmed that 53 people were killed including 4 foreigners while 286 others
sustained injuries in the bomb blast.

He said 600 kilograms of TNT and RDX explosives were used in 'the largest blast in
Pakistan'. He, however, denied that there was a security lapse. He said aluminum
powder was used to trigger fire after the blast.

He said the four foreigners who died in the incident included the ambassador of
Czech Republic, a Vietnamese woman and two US citizens.

Eleven foreigners were wounded including for US citizens, four Saudis and one each
from Lebanon, Britain and Afghanistan.

He said the US has offered assistance in the investigation of the bomb blast.

"It was a well-planned explosion and the suicide bomber's target of attack was
Marriot Hotel," Rehman Malik said.