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Deadly blast hits Pakistan city | Deadly blast hits Pakistan city |
(10 minutes later) | |
At least 20 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bombing in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. | At least 20 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bombing in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. |
Police told the BBC a bomber blew himself up in the car park of a hotel, beside a bank. More than 40 people were injured, including women and children. | |
The blast struck a busy area where security is controlled by the military, not far from army headquarters. | The blast struck a busy area where security is controlled by the military, not far from army headquarters. |
Last week, more than 100 people were killed after a huge car bomb ripped through a busy market in Peshawar. | Last week, more than 100 people were killed after a huge car bomb ripped through a busy market in Peshawar. |
Similar attacks have killed about 300 people since mid-October when the army launched an operation against Taliban militants in South Waziristan. | |
UN pull-out | UN pull-out |
The ongoing violence in the country led the United Nations to announce on Monday that it was pulling international staff from north-west Pakistan. | The ongoing violence in the country led the United Nations to announce on Monday that it was pulling international staff from north-west Pakistan. |
Our building shook as if in an earthquake and body parts were thrown into our office Raja Sher AliWitness Bold tactics stun Pakistan Who are the Taliban? | Our building shook as if in an earthquake and body parts were thrown into our office Raja Sher AliWitness Bold tactics stun Pakistan Who are the Taliban? |
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that the decision had been taken "bearing in mind the intense security situation in the region". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that the decision had been taken "bearing in mind the intense security situation in the region". |
Monday's blast took place in the car park of the four-star Shalimar hotel, Rawalpindi police chief Aslam Tareen told the BBC. | |
The car park is next to an office complex and a bank, outside where customers had been queuing. | The car park is next to an office complex and a bank, outside where customers had been queuing. |
"We were sitting on the second floor of our office. It was a huge blast," Raja Sher Ali, a marketing manager in a local company, told AFP news agency. | "We were sitting on the second floor of our office. It was a huge blast," Raja Sher Ali, a marketing manager in a local company, told AFP news agency. |
"Our building shook as if in an earthquake and when we came out there was smoke everywhere and body parts were thrown into our office," she said. | "Our building shook as if in an earthquake and when we came out there was smoke everywhere and body parts were thrown into our office," she said. |
Another witness, Zahid Dara, told Dunya TV: "There were many people lying on the ground with bleeding wounds, and a motorcycle was on fire with one man under it." | Another witness, Zahid Dara, told Dunya TV: "There were many people lying on the ground with bleeding wounds, and a motorcycle was on fire with one man under it." |
Taliban bounty | Taliban bounty |
The blast struck not far from Pakistan's army headquarters, where militants carried out a deadly siege last month that claimed nearly two dozen lives. | |
Monday's attack came as the Pakistani government offered rewards totalling $5m (£3m) for information leading to the capture of three Taliban leaders and 15 of their commanders. | Monday's attack came as the Pakistani government offered rewards totalling $5m (£3m) for information leading to the capture of three Taliban leaders and 15 of their commanders. |
In a front-page advertisement on Pakistan's daily, The News, the largest sum of $600,000 was promised for the capture - dead or alive - of the group's leader Hakimullah Mehsud. | In a front-page advertisement on Pakistan's daily, The News, the largest sum of $600,000 was promised for the capture - dead or alive - of the group's leader Hakimullah Mehsud. |
It said his Tehrik-e-Taliban group was involved in acts of terrorism that were causing the death of innocent Muslims on a daily basis. | It said his Tehrik-e-Taliban group was involved in acts of terrorism that were causing the death of innocent Muslims on a daily basis. |
"These people are definitely killers of humanity and deserve exemplary punishment," read the advertisement. | "These people are definitely killers of humanity and deserve exemplary punishment," read the advertisement. |
"Help the government of Pakistan so that these people meet their nemesis." | "Help the government of Pakistan so that these people meet their nemesis." |
Since launching its South Waziristan offensive on 17 October, the military has captured Kotkai, the birthplace of the Hakimullah Mehsud. | Since launching its South Waziristan offensive on 17 October, the military has captured Kotkai, the birthplace of the Hakimullah Mehsud. |
On Sunday the army said it was on the outskirts of Sararogha and Makeen, also strongholds of the Pakistani Taliban leader. | On Sunday the army said it was on the outskirts of Sararogha and Makeen, also strongholds of the Pakistani Taliban leader. |
MILITANT ATTACKS SINCE OCTOBER 28 Oct - At least 118 killed by a car bomb in a market in Peshawar 23 Oct - At least 22 killed in three attacks in northern Pakistan 20 Oct - Eight die in the twin blasts at a university in Islamabad 16 Oct - Twelve die in a bombing in Peshawar 15 Oct - About 40 die in a series of gun and bomb attacks 12 Oct - Security convoy attacked in Swat valley, 41 die 10 Oct - Militants attack Rawalpindi army HQ - 20 killed 9 Oct - At least 50 die in Peshawar suicide blast 5 Oct - Five killed in suicide bomb at UN Islamabad offices | MILITANT ATTACKS SINCE OCTOBER 28 Oct - At least 118 killed by a car bomb in a market in Peshawar 23 Oct - At least 22 killed in three attacks in northern Pakistan 20 Oct - Eight die in the twin blasts at a university in Islamabad 16 Oct - Twelve die in a bombing in Peshawar 15 Oct - About 40 die in a series of gun and bomb attacks 12 Oct - Security convoy attacked in Swat valley, 41 die 10 Oct - Militants attack Rawalpindi army HQ - 20 killed 9 Oct - At least 50 die in Peshawar suicide blast 5 Oct - Five killed in suicide bomb at UN Islamabad offices |
Are you in the region? Did you witness the explosion? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in the region? Did you witness the explosion? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |