PAKISTAN: Pakistan blasts kill at least 133 as Bhutto returns

At least 133 people die when bombs explode as former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto drives through masses of supporters in Karachi. Islamist militants were suspected of being behind a grenade and suicide bomb attack early on Friday (October 19) that killed 133 people as opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was driven through Karachi streets to greet supporters. Bhutto, who was returning from eight years of self-exile, was unhurt in one of the deadliest attacks in her country's history. She was quickly escorted away from the truck that had been carrying her from the airport through streets crowded with hundreds of thousands of well-wishers. Pools of blood and body parts could be seen near the blast site. There was no claim of responsibility but the Pakistan government blamed Islamist militants. Militants linked to al Qaeda, angered by Bhutto's support for the U.S. war on terrorism, had this week threatened to assassinate her. Interior Ministry Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said 133 people had been killed and 290 wounded. Bhutto was travelling in a platform-mounted truck. Police in vehicles escorting her, reporters and her supporters were among the casualties. "It was a bomb blast. There was a sudden flash of light. I felt my leg become numb and I fell down. After that I lost consciousness," said Mohammad Uzair. Many of those wounded were shaken by what had happened and blamed the government. "This is a very sad incident. How easy it is here to kill humanity. This should have never happened. The government should thoroughly investigate and punish the culprits," said Mohammad Ashfaque. The newspaper stands were crowded with people wanting to find out more of what the government has done to nail down the culprit. "It's unacceptable that something like this should happen. It is the government's responsibility to find the culprits and give them the maximum punishment," said Akram. Bodies were left in make-shift morgues before they were buried by their family members. The attack took place shortly after midnight, more than 10 hours after Bhutto had arrived back in Pakistan from Dubai. About 20,000 security personnel had been deployed to protect Bhutto but the provincial governor said in view of the threats, authorities had urged her party to wind up the procession faster.

ITN Source | October 19, 2007

Tags:. .terrorism. .procession. .prime. .pools. .masses