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Suicide attack in I-8 sector of Islamabad
Suicide bomber attacks a branch of Silk Bank. Security guard killed, four others injured.
Security personnel cordon off the scene of a suicide bomb attack on a bank building in Islamabad on June 13, 2011. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: A suicide bomber targeted a branch of Silk Bank in the I-8 sector area of Islamabad on Monday.
The suicide bomber detonated after being intercepted by the security guard at the entrance of the bank. The security guard was injured as a result of the blast and succumbed to his injuries when he was shifted to the hospital.
Four other people were reported to be injured, one of them in critical condition.
Inspector General of Police (IG) Islamabad, Wajid Durrani said the head and body parts of the suicide bomber had been found from the site.
President and PM condemn attack
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the suicide bomb blast. The President expressed his condolences with the families of the deceased, APP reported. The PM expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of life and ordered inquiry into the incident.
End of live updates
3:50pm
The front of the bank was badly damaged and hoardings smashed. Pieces of human flesh were scattered on the floor and several cars parked outside were also damaged, said an AFP reporter.
“I was returning from lunch when I heard a deafening noise,” said Chaudhry Yassir, who works in another bank nearby, told AFP.
“I saw the guard. It’s difficult to describe his condition. He was being rushed to the hospital but there was no hope.
“The same building has a wedding hall in the basement but there was no function at the time of the blast,” Yassir added.
“One security guard is confirmed dead while two others are injured,” Wajid Durrani told AFP, estimating that the bomber was aged 24 to 25 years old.
Twitter buzz:
Orezavi Our security strategy and tactics haven’t, ever, worked out for us. #Fact #Pakistan
Farieha Aziz Not saying checkposts can prevent suicide bombers who arere most likely to detonate themselves there. But what purpose do they serve? Inconvenient.
Blast in Islamabad and all the media continuously showing the live footage. Blast in Quetta and the news vanishes after 5 minutes. Heck :(
3:40pm
Eye-witnesses are saying the suicide bomber had been stopped by the guard outside the bank and had briefly resisted before detonating.
The furniture inside the bank has been destroyed, report Express 24/7 correspondent Syed Ali.
This is the first major attack in Islamabad after at least 18 months.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik had earlier said that security would be tightened in the capital.
3:35pm
Express 24/7 correspondent, Syed Ali reports that a minor altercation occurred between media and the police when some members of the media tried to enter the blast site.
Eye-witnesses from the site confirmed that the guard had stopped the suicide bomber at the entrance, who had then detonated outside the bank.
Forensic and security officials are on the site and are combing the site for evidence.
IG Islamabad confirmed that the second body, which is reported to be the body of the suicide bomber, had been shifted from the site for forensic analysis.
“The bomber tried to enter into the branch of a private bank in I-8 sector of the city, but the guard resisted and the bomber detonated himself,” city police chief Wajid Durrani told Reuters on the spot.
“It seems to be a suicide attack, we have found the head and the body parts of the bomber,” he told AFP.
“The bomber probably blew himself up inside the bank as his
head is lying inside,” Wajid Ali Durrani told Reuters.
Nida Rasheed Was I-8 targeted because it’s on the boundary of Islamabad? There’s maybe one security checkpoint before it. #Islamabad
Hena Zuberi Suicide attack in Islamabad-why is I-8 such an easy target? Bhatti killed there too #Islamabadbombing
Areebah Shahid Suicide blast outside civilian property..and the war returns to #Islamabad again…
Orezavi I see no point, and find it rather offensive, when sitting politicians tweet about breaking news & sympathise with those affected.
3:26pm
Express 24/7 correspondent, Suhail Chaudhry reports Deputy Commissioner Islamabad has confirmed four people have been injured.
Three people have been shifted to PIMS Hospital, one is reported to be in critical condition.
3:25pm
“The bomber walked into the bank and blew himself up when
the security guard tried to search him,” witness Hammad Ahmad told Reuters.
Twitter alert:
Omar Waraich The target was Silk Bank in I-8 – owned by former Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen
Omar Waraich The security guard was killed by the suicide bomber while preventing him from entering the bank #IslamabadBombing
3:20pm
IG Islamabad Wajid Ali Durrani says remains have been found inside the bank building and the police suspect that they belong to the suicide bomber.
Express 24/7 correspondent, Syed Ali Ehsan says many people were present inside and outside the bank.
The injured have been taken to PIMS Hospital, which is the closest medical facility from the blast site.
There have been reports of only two injured from hospital sources.
The Bomb Disposal Squad is examining the site.
3:15pm
The suicide bomber detonated outside the bank when he was stopped by the security guard, reports state.
SSP Islamabad Tahir Alam has also confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
3:10pm
DIG Islamabad Bin Yamin has been confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.
Fire brigade has arrived at the site.
Security and rescue forces are present in the area.
Two people are confirmed dead and several have been reported to be injured.
3:05pm
Police authorities have confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.
A second body has also been found from the site, sources have said that the body could belong to the suicide bomber.
There has been a considerable amount of damage to the front of the bank.
Emergency has been declared at all hospitals.
3:00pm
Several people have been reported to be injured in the blast.
The security guard of the bank has been reported to be killed as a result of the blast.
There is no information on the intensity of the blast.
Rescue 1122 teams have reached the site.
On Sunday, a low intensity roadside blast injured three people including a child on Murree Road near Malpur village on the outskirts of the city.
A slideshow of images from the site can be viewed here.
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Oh no…if they need some money.simply bank loot lo. suicide attack karna zaroori hai kya.Recommend
Oh NORecommend
Oh god. Even in Islamabad you’re sitting ducksRecommend
The time to shut down all Terrorist Training Camps and bomb making factories is now ! ISI must revert back to the role it was designed to do. There is no “strategy” in farming terrorists !!Recommend
Stupid suicide bombersRecommend
oh ho now they are targeting bank also but what bank employee to do with
politics may be some robbers try to rob money from thereRecommend
**
this is very bad condition we whole
nation pray for our safety and for
our country
**Recommend
May Allah heal those wounded and bless the departed souls. Ameen
Indeed, very sad!Recommend
The suicide bomber’s head has been found! He was a teenager (aged between 14 & 18) from North Waziristan, wearing a suit like star wars or spiderman. I have ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter and asked for the results within 24 minutes.
Any other questions?Recommend
Call it blasting news instead of breaking news! :(Recommend
There has to be a reason why the bomber targeted the Silk Bank….maybe there was high value target inside…..why does’nt the media report the news as ” a failed suicide attack” as it was— and glorify the honourable guard who laid his life. we need a strategy to morally target the extremists…we need to wage a psychological war with the extremists here …we need billboards on squares with pictures of policemen and soldiers and guards who laid there lives saving hundreds and thousands…..even after ten years of suicide bombings…we are still standing in the middle of nowhere……oh yes of course…the PPP and PMLQ plan to topple PMLN govt in Punjab……awesoome!Recommend
Hmmmmm………. maybe the bank was Haram, not islamic :(Recommend
Yesterday the Taliban denied any involvement in the Peshawar Cantt twin blasts as they do not target civilians. Now, what will they say about the Silk Bank incident. Taliban are the worst human living on this planet. They have no religion. It is just a method of winning over the illiterate people by giving religious effects to their actions. They are not Muslims. They along with OBL and the other leaders are heathens, pagans, out for adventure. They must be ruthlessly annihilated. Give the US a free hand to drone them out of the Land of the Pure.
The government must take serious action. wipe them.Recommend
The security guard did his job, May ALLAH rest his soul in peace, ameen! Recommend
So now the Fundamentalists have something against Silk as well? Recommend
Sad, beyond dismay. Ya Allah Madad !!!!Recommend
Bombing banks is becoming a new trend…
I don’t think looting is the motive here apparently…
Weird… Recommend
They just want to give a message that they can even hit Islamabad which is capital city of Pakistan and all GOVT. is living there.Recommend
Insallah,we will have shaira in pakistan.
it will end all our problems.Recommend
How easy it is to imagine that it is yet another act of islamic militants (terrorists) and they are very very bad people. How simple we are. We are being destroyed and we dont tknow who is our enemy.Recommend
If you look at any newspaper anywhere in the world about pakistan, all you see is killing, rape, murder, bombing, terror, militants, aid, drugs & nothing else! :(
& we still dont agree whose war is this even after 35000 deaths!Recommend
Where is ISI when you need it?Recommend
@Viqar ul Haq, they denied why? they feel proud to take such responsibilties which they shouldn’t be then why they denied on this? We people are severely victim of this media war. our minds are so damn parallized that we can’t think ourself. CIA and Black water is more active in pakistan than any other terrorist groupRecommend
Appeal To Mr. Tareen.
Please take care of guards family. Recommend
The security guard is the real hero in this case! May Allah bless him. He probably saved alot of lives by sacrificing his own. The bank and the people in it should be thankful to him for saving their lives. Recommend
One major problem lies within the armed forces.Pak armed forces seems to be divided on the “WAR ON TERROR” agenda.If our defence forces are not united how will they be able to defend?.Five fingers from a palm make a hefty punch.Recommend
God give the security guard’s family patience and strength.Recommend
Looks like the War has spread into the settled areas as well inside Pakistan, I reall feel sorry for you guys. Pl get your govt to take suitable action at the earliest before the Taliban takes over the country.Recommend
@Pragmatist: You don’t say revert ‘back’. It’s ‘Revert’. Revert means to ‘get back’.Recommend
@Rehman Malik: way to go. :)Recommend
Insha Allah, all these terrorists and their perpetrators will go to Hell. May Allah return all these conspiracies to destabilize Pakistan to the originators, Ameen.Recommend
@Viqar ul Haq
How can be u so sure abt the involvement of Taliban behind I-8 Blast, can u plz tell me what the hell CIA and black water r doing here……. r they here for picnic party? Raymond Davis was only highlighted on media when he killed innocent Pakistani, otherwise non of us would know the fact, satellite camera and many other spy related stuffs captured by security forces proved that he was an espionage and was on his covert mission. Bro there r many other Raymond Davis actively working in Pakistan. Recommend
@Akthar: the effect is never the cause. as cause is never the effect. this was never our war but we chose to allow ourself be dragged into it. now we are paying the price for it. u live by the sword … u die by the sword. Recommend
@Naveed Javed: ameen.Recommend
@ayesha:
Even at the cost of brutal elimination of those not willing to conform? Such cold and cruel logic is not expected of a lady. May GOD save your son / husband / brother / father as these barbarians do not interview the intended victims before blowing up. Thats why I pray for their safety.Recommend
my heartt is bleeding can we not publish these news please????Recommend
i was there – almost 30 metres from the branch but survived alhamdolillah.Recommend
Security guard sacrifices his life in Islamabad attack … Bravo…Recommend
Cowardly act by a cowardly criminal to hurt innocent Pakistanis. We should really be honoring the brave guard who prevented the criminal from entering and saved countless lives. I hope the bank offers the departed family adequate compensation for their unmeasurable loss. The bank should make sure that the family of the deceased guard who was so heroic is never in need for education or household finances. It is because of people like this guard that we know that Pakistan will overcome the crimes of these anti state criminals controlled from abroad.Recommend
This problem of terrorism can only be solved by educating people and dealing with it at grassroots level! And not by using drones and spending billions of dollars on military for fighting it! What have we achieved from this so called war on terror! Only more and more bombings and thousands of soldiers killed!Recommend
As a nation, we should take firm decision unanimously.Recommend
Terrorism is a curs,
we should all stand against it
and bring to it its conclusion.Recommend
Looks tough circumstances ahead ,
what is solution of this problem,
a super power has been fighting but failed
Pakistan is a poor country,economically destroyed state,
God bless us all.Recommend
What we need to understand here is that a 4th generation war is going on against Pakistan. Although It is called “War on Terrorism”, the reality is far different. In a 4th generation war, terrorism is used as a tool to create unrest, divide among people and take the attention away from the real problem. Haven’t u people noticed that since the start of this war, there is further division among pakistani people, both at ethnic and religious level. It is time to unite and understand what is going on!Recommend
I guess “no boots on the ground” policy hasn’t properly appeased the terrorist. God forbid you start to implement a “no terrorist on the ground” policy which actually might have a positive impact on Pakistan and the World.Recommend
Pakistan now eating the fruit of indulging itself in someone else’s war! Recommend
This is not 4th Generation war, this is 5th generation war…4G is fought in streets and urban areas in this war bombs are blwoing up in random houses, restratunts, bakeries and banks…This is what Zahid Hamid will say in todays showRecommend
@IronMaiden:
Well said. Terrorism can be defeated in Pakistan if people stay united against these fake religious mercenaries killing innocent people.Recommend
waiting to see when will news of ehnalllluh ,azam tariq whatvever names spokemans of tehreek e taliban pakistan death news will come with top leaders killed
and when no american footprint on pak soil
is only possible when pak started itself
and fencing of af pak borders
and children should be given books Recommend
As you sow so shall you reap. =)Recommend
@Rehman Malik:
This is a RAW operation. It took you guys 24 minutes to confirm that! Zaid Hamid and Hamid Gul were already broadcasting this fact as soon as they looked into the bomber’s eyes! Judicial inquiry is a master stroke – need to fool the people. Good point. Recommend
Nothing will appease the terrorists. Not Shariah, not ending war in Afghanistan, not discriminating minorities, not anything.
It is time to realize this and finish the terrorists. Destroy them. Every single one. Leave not one standing. It is either the terrorists or Pakistan – one will win. We all hope it is the latter.Recommend
@Shahbaz Younis:
Not just CIA and BlackWater, add RAW and Mossad. They woke this morning and decided to bomb Silk Bank with sole purpose of destablizing Pakistan!Recommend
@Ani, Who knows who did the attack. He might be from TTP, ISI, RAW, CIA, MOSSAD, KGP etc… . We would never know for sure. Nobody gets caught here and no successful inquiry ever done! The easiest way is for TTP to take the responsibility for every such attack. Time to wake up! While it is true that Zaid Hamid just speaks for ISI and Armed forces, as I think he is paid by them, but some of the conspiracy theories he tells seems to have some elements. He told us that it is a 4th generation war against Pakistan and if you study such form of war, many of those elements are in place. Why TTP never did any suicide bombing before start of war on terror but now they are doing it? We create our own enemies and then cry! Recommend
A stratgic asset misfired!!Recommend
Unguided and misled have reated yet anther havoc to enter gates of paradise……
Where are the big Ulemas and hi-placed scholars?
They must come forward now and act proactively to address these misled to the correct path Recommend
@Shahbaz Younis:
You are a shining example of the ignorance the terrorists love to exploit to do what they do and get away with it.
Seriously. The whole situation is getting plain stupid.
In just these few weeks I’ve gone from…
Saw you as equals -> liking the idea of true joint operations because it would be able to end all of this fairly quickly -> indifference -> found out I’ve completely misjudged the people of Pakistan and was almost embarrassed I thought you had even a tiny amount of potential for sincerity or at least the trait was capable of showing itself every now and then. -> Annoyed from being proven dead wrong without a shred of a doubt or possible alternate explanation -> Opinion hit rock bottom as I can’t stand betrayal -> I now read these articles and comments because it’s a messed up mixture of horror and comedy with horror being the killing and the comedy is the reaction to it leading to gross indifference to most of the tragedies as I know it’s your own fault and I’d now rather see your foot in your mouth than any other outcome.
Though I should give you some credit. To take me from that start to that end in just a couple weeks takes talent. It would usually take months.Recommend
secuity forces in pakistan could not protect their NOSES from being snipped unless they get the WRITTEN PLAN of ACTION.. and a 48 hour warning of the attack..
they are a JOKE!!Recommend
Mark : Dont you feel sorry for the Indians who have been put up with this kind of neighbour for 63 years and end to these comedy/horror not in sight?Recommend