Two US marines among killed; search over at Pak blast site Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Sept 22 (PTI) Two U.S. marines were among the
four foreigners killed in the devastating suicide attack on
the Pakistani capital's Marriott hotel as rescue workers
Monday completed the search of the gutted multi-storied luxury
hotel, saying there was no possibility of finding any more
survivors.

A suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with 600 kg of
military grade explosives into the main gate of the Marriott
on Saturday evening killing 53 people.

A U.S. embassy official here confirmed that the two
employees of the U.S. defence department were among the dead
and that a third American, who was a contractor for the state
department was unaccounted for.

He said three other U.S. embassy employees and a
contractor were injured. The bomb attack also claimed the life
of the Czech Ambassador to Pakistan.

The hotel was packed with foreigners and Pakistanis who
had gathered for the iftar meal to break the traditional fast
during the holy month of Ramzan when the attack took place.

A total of 266 people were injured in the attack,
described as the biggest bombing ever in Pakistan's history.

Rescue workers Monday said they had completed their
search in most parts of the five-storey, 290-room hotel that
was a favourite gathering spot for Westerners and the
Pakistani elite. They said there was no possibility of any
more bodies being found in the blackened structure.

Sunday, some eight to 10 bodies were pulled out of the
building, including that of the Czech envoy Ivo Zdarek.

Engineers said only the upper part of the hotel was
affected by the blast.

They said its structure and foundation were "solid and
safe" and ruled out the possibility of building's collapse.
Earlier, officials said they had feared the structure might
collapse after being ravaged by the powerful explosion and the
subsequent fire.

Forensic experts too carried out an assessment of the
structure. Investigators have also gathered clues at the site
of the blast over the past two days.

Authorities yesterday released security camera footage of
the attack, including the final minutes before the massive
explosion that was heard up to 30 km away.

Officials said the truck was packed with aluminium power,
a highly flammable material that accelerated the fire in the
hotel.

Geo News channel quoted sources as saying that the
interior ministry had obtained footage from security cameras
installed in four locations at the hotel. The clearest footage
was obtained from the camera that overlooked the main gate.

This footage showed the face of the suicide bomber and
the main blast, which occurred about four minutes after the
bomber blew himself up in a small explosion. PTI RHL
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