“Many threats have been made from left, right and centre to try and intimidate not only me, but most important of all, the people of Pakistan so that they should not go to the airport to receive me. The threats come from Afghan militants, Arab militants and the Red Mosque militants but the people of Pakistan are with me. I don’t believe that a true Muslim will make an attack on me… Islam forbids suicide bombings … Anyone who attacks me would burn in hell.”
Former Pakistani Premier Benazir Bhutto
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Before Her Return to Pakistan
Al Qaeda promised there would be death.
Hardliners and Al-Qaeda had promised her assassination.
Today over a hundred Pakistanis were murdered when Bhutto returned home.
Reuters has video of the homecoming blasts HERE.
A scene of devastation caused by a bomb explosion at a procession of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007. Two explosions went off near the vehicle carrying former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto, killing or wounding dozens of people. Party workers and police said Bhutto was unhurt . (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)
Bhutto was unhurt and was taken to her residence.
The number of dead is at 115– one of the deadliest blasts in Pakistan history.
Reuters reported:
KARACHI (Reuters) – A suspected suicide bomber killed 115 people on Friday in an attack targeting a vehicle carrying former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto through Karachi on her return from eight years in exile.
Officials said Bhutto was unhurt after one of the deadliest blasts in her country’s history, having left the truck that had been transporting her through streets crowded with hundreds of thousands of wellwishers.
“Ms. Bhutto is safe and she has been taken to her residence,” said Azhar Farooqui, a senior police officer in Karachi.
Militants linked to al Qaeda, angered by Bhutto’s support for the United States war on terrorism, had earlier this week threatened to assassinate her.
Victims lie on the ground after an explosion in Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007. Two explosions went off near the vehicle carrying former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto, killing or wounding dozens of people. Party workers and police said Bhutto was unhurt. Benazir Bhutto had made a dramatic return to Pakistan on Thursday, greeting tens of thousands of cheering supporters amid massive security and launching what she hopes will be a stunning political comeback after eight years of exile. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Pakistan’s former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is rescued from her truck after a bomb explosion in Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007. Two explosions went off near the vehicle carrying former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto, killing or wounding dozens of people. Party workers and police said Bhutto was unhurt. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
It was an easy target for Al-Qaeda…
How horrible.
Supporters of Benazir Bhutto hold a giant flag as they march towards the Jinnah airport in Karachi. Bhutto has returned to Pakistan after eight years in exile, defying Al-Qaeda death threats to receive a jubilant welcome from hundreds of thousands of supporters.(AFP/Rizwan Tabassum)
HotAir has running updates.
UPDATE: Kooky Left blames Bush for the blasts.
UPDATE 2: Bill Roggio reports that the Taliban had threatened Bhutto.
