Pakistan - Islamabad bombing

Taliban suspected of deadly Islamabad UN HQ bombing

Article published on the 2009-10-05 Latest update 2009-10-05 14:42 TU

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari (R) is still struggling with terrorism
(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistani police are investigating how a suicide bomber managed to enter the UN headquarters in Islamabad and set off a blast which killed five people. The bomber, reportedly dressed in military uniform, entered the World Food Programme offices and detonated about eight kilogrammes of explosives.

Correspondent Omar Waraich says the blast was surprising, “because the World Food Programme’s office was considered one of the best protected in Islamabad.”

"There were 80 people working in the office at the time," according to Bani Amin, Deputy Inspector General of Islamabad police operations.

"We have recovered legs and the skull of the suicide bomber," he said. "We are investigating how he managed to enter inside the building. There are scanners, there are cameras and strict security arrangements."

No organisation has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, though it comes a day after the Taliban’s new leader Hakimullah Mehsud, vowed reprisals for the death of his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud.

“And it also comes days ahead of what is anticipated to be a new military offensive in south Waziristan, the troubled tribal area which has been a base for the Pakistan Taliban and for other militants,” said Waraich, who says the UN will be shutting down the Islamabad offices temporarily.

“This looks to have taken quite a serious effect, and whether the United Nations and the [World Food Programme] will be able to sustain their programmes remains to be seen,” he said.