Deadly suicide bomb targets Islamabad Marriott Hotel

A suicide truck bomb targeted Islamabad, Pakistan’s centrally-located Marriott Hotel, destroying much of the structure on Saturday night. The hotel’s location is near the Parliament building and the home of the Pakistani prime minister.

Late on Saturday night, Pakistani security officials were collect evidence from a crater in the hotel building, estimated to be at least 10 meters deep.

At least 40 people were killed in the bombing, and more than 200 others were wounded, according to the police.

In early reports from officials at the scene, there were still people trapped inside the hotel that had burst into flames after a natural gas leak caused an explosion.

Details regarding the incident and the actual number of fatalities are not yet clear due to conflicting early reports. Either one or two vehicles was involved in the bombing of the hotel, which was also the target of attacks in the past.

A blaze broke out on the top floor of the five-storey building, due to a natural gas leak, police at the scene reported. The entire 258-room hotel was quickly engulfed by the fire.

Police said that the vehicle exploded at around 7:30 pm local time, shortly after the breaking of the daily Ramadan fast.

A path of destruction was left by the vehicle bomb, which included miles of felled trees and broken windows. A deep crater was left in the pavement where the bomb was thought to have detonated, and over a dozen vehicles on the street were destroyed.

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