A huge explosion ripping through a luxurious hotel in Islamabad has reportedly killed nearly hundred people. The blast that happed at the Marriott hotel at around 8pm left the entire hotel burning for hours. The high intensity blast has been unprecedented in recent years. US authorities have claimed that the suicide attack is typical of Al-Qaida.

 

However, an official based at the Guantanamo US Naval base said that it's too early to say definitively, but the attack certainly bears all the hallmarks of an operation carried out by al-Qaida or its associates. According to senior police official Asghar Raza Gardezi the explosion of higher intensity was caused by more than a tonne of explosives probably delivered in a small truck.

 

Perhaps, the Marriott hotel was selected for its proximity to powerful people. The place is the centre of the city, close to the National Assembly, the main commercial thoroughfare and the PTV HQ. Also, it was not the first attack in the hotel, in the year 2007 an attack effort was foiled by a security guard. This time perhaps, terrorists cracked the weaker point of the hotel security.