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| Many killed in Pakistan bombing | Many killed in Pakistan bombing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A powerful bomb blast in a hotel in the centre of the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar has killed at least 24 people, police and officials say. | A powerful bomb blast in a hotel in the centre of the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar has killed at least 24 people, police and officials say. |
| The ground-floor blast demolished parts of the four-storey Marhaba hotel near a busy market, trapping people inside. | The ground-floor blast demolished parts of the four-storey Marhaba hotel near a busy market, trapping people inside. |
| Up to 30 people were injured, officials said. Ambulances and hand-pushed carts were used to ferry them to hospital. | Up to 30 people were injured, officials said. Ambulances and hand-pushed carts were used to ferry them to hospital. |
| The motive for the attack is not known. Peshawar has seen many recent attacks, some causing serious loss of life. | The motive for the attack is not known. Peshawar has seen many recent attacks, some causing serious loss of life. |
| Rescue efforts | Rescue efforts |
| The Marhaba, in Peshawar's old city, is popular with tribal visitors from Afghanistan. | The Marhaba, in Peshawar's old city, is popular with tribal visitors from Afghanistan. |
| I tried to visit the site but there was huge rush of people and every one was panicking... It was terrible Humayun Khan, Peshawar class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6658435.stm"> In pictures: Bomb carnage | |
| Police say the blast happened at lunchtime in the reception lobby when the hotel was crowded with diners. | Police say the blast happened at lunchtime in the reception lobby when the hotel was crowded with diners. |
| One man, Muhammad Ibrahim, told the BBC of his near escape. | One man, Muhammad Ibrahim, told the BBC of his near escape. |
| "I was entering the hotel when suddenly [there was] a huge bomb blast cracking everything around." | "I was entering the hotel when suddenly [there was] a huge bomb blast cracking everything around." |
| Another spoke of panic in the area, and of the dead and injured being taken to the nearby Lady Reading hospital. | Another spoke of panic in the area, and of the dead and injured being taken to the nearby Lady Reading hospital. |
| Hassan Khan, a waiter in the hotel, said he survived only because he was taking food to guests in their rooms at the time of the blast. | Hassan Khan, a waiter in the hotel, said he survived only because he was taking food to guests in their rooms at the time of the blast. |
| "I lost my senses, and when I came round and ran to see, there were dead bodies and body parts everywhere, even out in the street," he told the Associated Press news agency. | "I lost my senses, and when I came round and ran to see, there were dead bodies and body parts everywhere, even out in the street," he told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Many people were wounded in the explosion | Many people were wounded in the explosion |
| He said the Afghan owner of the restaurant, his two sons and two other relatives were among the dead. Seven employees had also been killed. | He said the Afghan owner of the restaurant, his two sons and two other relatives were among the dead. Seven employees had also been killed. |
| The blast was so powerful that it blew out at least one of the walls of the hotel. | The blast was so powerful that it blew out at least one of the walls of the hotel. |
| Television pictures showed shattered windows and twisted fans inside the hotel. Nearby buildings in the congested city centre also suffered damage. | Television pictures showed shattered windows and twisted fans inside the hotel. Nearby buildings in the congested city centre also suffered damage. |
| Local people helped get survivors out of the building and retrieve bodies. | Local people helped get survivors out of the building and retrieve bodies. |
| Provincial police chief Sharif Virk said at least one woman and a child were also among the dead. | Provincial police chief Sharif Virk said at least one woman and a child were also among the dead. |
| He called the incident terrorism, but he has not named any suspects. No group has said it carried out the attack. | He called the incident terrorism, but he has not named any suspects. No group has said it carried out the attack. |
| Mr Virk and other senior police and government officials have said they believe the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. | Mr Virk and other senior police and government officials have said they believe the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. |
| They say that a severed leg, possibly that of the alleged bomber, was found at the scene of the blast with a note in Pashto tied to it warning "American spies" of a similar fate. | They say that a severed leg, possibly that of the alleged bomber, was found at the scene of the blast with a note in Pashto tied to it warning "American spies" of a similar fate. |
| Correspondents say so far neither the leg nor the note have been shown to journalists - nor is it clear how a suicide bomber could be confident that a piece of paper would be found intact after the blast. | Correspondents say so far neither the leg nor the note have been shown to journalists - nor is it clear how a suicide bomber could be confident that a piece of paper would be found intact after the blast. |
| Bomb attacks | Bomb attacks |
| There have been a series of explosions in Peshawar over the past year. | There have been a series of explosions in Peshawar over the past year. |
| Some have been blamed on local militants from Pakistan's nearby tribal areas, said to be taking revenge for government strikes against them. | Some have been blamed on local militants from Pakistan's nearby tribal areas, said to be taking revenge for government strikes against them. |
| Others have been blamed on Afghan intelligence. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a history of strained relations. | Others have been blamed on Afghan intelligence. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a history of strained relations. |
| Last month a suicide attack near Peshawar targeted the interior minister and killed nearly 30 people. | Last month a suicide attack near Peshawar targeted the interior minister and killed nearly 30 people. |
| In January, a bomb in the city killed at least 14 people, most of them policemen. | In January, a bomb in the city killed at least 14 people, most of them policemen. |
| Correspondents say there is no indication that Tuesday's blast is linked to violence between pro-government and opposition supporters which has left more than 40 people dead in recent days in the southern city of Karachi. | Correspondents say there is no indication that Tuesday's blast is linked to violence between pro-government and opposition supporters which has left more than 40 people dead in recent days in the southern city of Karachi. |
Were you in the area in Peshawar? Did you see anything? You can send us your comments using the form below: | Were you in the area in Peshawar? Did you see anything? You can send us your comments using the form below: |