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Pakistan hotel bomb halts British Airways flights

By admin | September 22, 2008

British Airways has suspended all flights to Pakistan after the bombing of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, an airline spokesman confirmed this morning.

“The safety of our customers, crew and aircraft is of paramount importance,” a BA spokesman said.

The last flight to Islamabad, the only Pakistani destination served by BA, left yesterday.

A scheduled departure from London’s Heathrow airport tomorrow has been cancelled and the airline is deciding whether to go ahead with a flight on Wednesday.

Rescuers continue to pick their way through the ruins of the plush hotel complex in the Pakistani capital. At least 53 people were killed and 266 wounded, after a bomber blew up a lorry containing 600kg (1,322lb) of explosive on Saturday evening at a gateway to the complex, leaving a crater 20 metres wide and 8 metres deep.

The body of the Czech ambassador, Ivo Zdarek, was among those pulled from the rubble. Zdarek, 47, moved to Islamabad last month.

Two Americans, said to have been US defence department employees, were killed but their identities have not been revealed.

The Danish intelligence agency said one of its agents, a security adviser, was missing presumed dead.

Six British citizens, including a child, have been treated in hospital. Two were hit by flying glass in a bakery half a mile from the hotel.

Of the six, two were kept in hospital for observation, while the others were discharged with superficial injuries. Three of the injured worked for the British high commission.

The bombing happened after dusk on Saturday. Hundreds of people were dining in several restaurants inside the hotel.

Closed-circuit television footage showed the driver of the lorry ramming into the security gates but failing to breach a second barrier.

The British high commission, one of the largest in the world and employing 150 British workers, was open as normal today.

The foreign secretary, David Miliband, said the bombing would only reinforce Britain’s determination to combat terrorism in the country.

“This latest bombing attack in Islamabad is yet another shocking and disgraceful attack without justification,” he said.

“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the government of Pakistan against the violent extremists who have no answers but only offer death and mayhem.

“This horrific attack reinforces our shared determination to tackle violent extremism.”

The Conservative party leader, David Cameron, who recently visited Pakistan, said: “This attack underlines why Britain and Pakistan must work together at every level to defeat terrorism, and to send a clear message to the terrorists that we will remain steadfast in the face of the threat from terrorism.”

The prime minister, Gordon Brown, told Sky News: “We already work with the Pakistan government in giving help with counter-terrorism operations; we will continue to do that.

“But, as I was saying to the president of Pakistan a few days ago, we are going to have to step up the cooperation between our two countries, and with other countries, so that we can deal with this terrorist threat.”

The blast at the heavily guarded hotel came a few days after the new president, Asif Ali Zardari, visited 10 Downing Street for talks.

There is increasing tension between the US and Pakistan because of American troops going into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan to fight militants without permission from Islamabad.

Pakistani security services have stepped up military action against al-Qaida and Taliban forces along the Afghan border.

Topics: Pakistan News |