Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing
The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on the night of 20 September 2008, when a dumper truck filled with explosives was detonated in front of the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, killing at least 54 people, injuring at least 266 and leaving a 60 ft (20 m) wide, 20 ft (6 m) deep crater outside the hotel. The majority of the casualties were Pakistanis; at least five foreign nationals were also killed and fifteen others reported injured. The attack occurred only hours after President Asif Ali Zardari made his first speech to the Pakistani parliament. The Marriott was the most prestigious hotel in the capital, and was located near government buildings, diplomatic missions, embassies and high commissions.
| Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing | |
|---|---|
View of the hotel after the attack | |
| Location | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33.7328°N 73.0871°E |
| Date | 20 September 2008 19:56. (UTC+05:00) |
Attack type | Suicide attack, truck bombing |
| Deaths | 54 |
| Injured | 266 |
| Perpetrators | Unknown |
During the investigation, three suspected terrorists were arrested by the Pakistani police. They were suspected of having facilitated the suicide bomber. However later they were acquitted of all charges as no evidence was ever presented against them.
Only a few months after the hotel's bombing owner Sadruddin Hashwani had arranged a re-construction, and the Islamabad Marriott reopened officially on 28 December 2008. It is one of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of Pakistan.