Shock over Pakistan terror bomb

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There is shock across the papers at the scale of the suicide bombing of the Marriott hotel in Pakistan.

A huge crater pictured on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reveals the devastation in the capital Islamabad.

The photograph, also in the Guardian and the Daily Mail, shows tiny-looking figures picking through a lunar landscape of dirt and concrete.

At least 53 people were killed, writes the Telegraph, and local commentators have called it "Pakistan's 09/11".

'Staring into abyss'

The leader column in the Independent says that Pakistan is staring "into an abyss" following the explosion.

The paper is concerned that in the past few months terrorists have succeeded in several large-scale suicide bombings.

It lists Pakistan's ambivalence towards radical Islam, its weak economy and growing sectarian violence as factors.

The Times says it is a "shocking blow" to Pakistan, especially as the hotel was destroyed even though the lorry and explosives had been stopped outside.

Top Trumps

The Labour Party conference, and Gordon Brown's travails as prime minister, continue to fill the day's papers.

The Sun reports delegates have been playing a special version of the children's card game Top Trumps.

In their version, each card represents a political figure. We are told Gordon Brown's card has a higher value than Conservative leader David Cameron's.

The Daily Mirror is impressed by the display of loyalty. The paper urges Mr Brown to continue his fightback.

Nation of criminals

Finally, the Daily Mail reports that the average person in the UK breaks the law at least once a day.

Top of the list of crimes is speeding, closely followed by using a mobile while driving, dropping litter and illegally downloading music.

Five thousand people were questioned for the poll.

One of the researchers is quoted saying that the most worrying thing is that many people "aren't at all bothered about it".