At least five people were killed and 25 injured when a huge explosion ripped through the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's restive North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), officials said.
The blast partially demolished the building, which is located near a military base and an important government building in a high-security zone.
"According to the information I have received so far five people have been killed and 25 are injured," said the city's top civilian administrator, Sahebzada Anees.
Geo TV reported a provincial minister and a member of parliament were among the injured.
Some foreign nationals were also believed to be inside the hotel when the blast occurred.
A reporter from Geo TV said one injured victim told him that he was a French national.
A relief worker said there were some injured foreign nationals inside the building. "They are not ready to trust us. The police will come and then they will be moved to the hospital."
"I was at the mosque when the blast took place. There are many people lying in the mosque. There are also many people lying in the Marco Polo Hall," an eyewitness told the news channel. The witness said shots were also heard before the explosion.
The Pakistani military is currently engaged in a massive anti-Taliban operation in three districts of the NWFP that entered its 45th day Tuesday. The military says that some 1,350 Taliban have so far been killed in the operations, with the security forces suffering about 110 casualties.
He does not for a moment regret his supremely brave act of throwing out a ticking bomb from the bus window and saving over 50 lives, losing his eyesight in the blast that followed seconds later. But, DTC bus driver Kuldeep Singh does feel hurt that three years later he is made to run from pillar to post to get the promised medical compensation and that Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit chooses to "ignore" him.
Surviving on a meagre salary of Rs.8,500 that he draws as vehicle examiner at the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Shadipur depot in west Delhi, 36-year-old Singh says life is tough for him, his wife and three-old-year son.
"I am proud of what I have done. But some times I really fight within and feel cheated when I have to run from pillar to post to get the promised medical compensation announced by Dikshit."
On Oct 29, 2005, a few days before Diwali, three blasts ripped through the national capital and killed at least 65 people.
Singh, then a DTC bus driver, spotted a bomb inside his bus and picked it up to throw it outside. His bravery and presence of mind saved the lives of over 50 people but took away his vision completely.
His right hand was severely burned and he cannot even hear anything in his right ear.
"Today I am forced to borrow money from others to buy necessities. Still I have no regrets of picking up the bomb and throwing it away at a safe distance," Singh, clad in light blue kurta pyjama, told IANS in his two-bed room apartment.
"I have saved the lives of 50-60 passengers and saved the bus costing Rs.1.8 million. God forbid, had all the passengers been killed, the government would have had to give compensation of Rs.50,000 each to their families," he said in a heavy voice.
"A government job is good for nothing. It is difficult to survive with this meagre salary, and this too was only raised last month because of the Sixth Pay Commission. Earlier I used to get only Rs.6,800. You can understand how we would be surviving when I have to foot bills on treatment of my son and myself," he said.
"Do they (government) have any idea how many families would have lost their breadwinners. I am not asking all this money. But I am hurt. The promises meant to us are still to be fulfilled. They gave me a permanent job in DTC after the blast. My wife and I were promised that the home given to us is part of the reward."
"But we are still paying the house rent. On Jan 25, 2007 Dikshit honoured me with Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and promised me that I would be given the required amount towards the expenditure incurred on the treatment of my eyes at Hyderabad hospital," he said.
Singh said he has visited Hyderabad 11 times so far and spent Rs.250,000 on his treatment. "In February last year, I submitted the bills and after some time I was given a sum of Rs.63,000. Since then, no further payment has been made to me. Whenever I ask the government officials, they say my file is moving."
"I even went to meet Dikisht along with my wife and two other people demanding the compensation amount. But she just overlooked us and casually directed his personal assistant to look into my grievances. But I am still waiting," he said wiping his eyes with his right hand which still bears the scars of wounds received that fateful day three years ago.
"Had these politicians lost their loved ones in the blast, they would have realised the pain and apathy. These senseless people only know about playing politics."
Singh has now only one wish - to be able to see his son growing up.
Exactly a week after five synchronized terror blasts rattled the national capital and killed 24 people, Delhi Police Saturday said they had cracked the conspiracy behind this and three other terror attacks in the country.
“We have solved the Delhi blast case,” said Karnail Singh, joint commissioner of police (Special Cell).
Singh said a terrorist module of 13 people was responsible for the recent spate of terror attacks in India including the Uttar Pradesh court blasts of last year and the serial bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and New Delhi this year.
He named the 13 members of the module as Atif, Saif, Zeeshan, Shajid, Junaid, Shadab Bhai, Alihas Malik, Shazid, Mohammad Khalif, Arif, Shakeel, Zia Khan and Salman.
All the members of the module were from Azamgarh village in Uttar Pradesh. “Atif lured his fellow and junior students from Azamgarh to terrorism,” the police official said.
Singh said the dreaded Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had been providing the training and support to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad and New Delhi attacks.
“When LeT's terrorists were arrested, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan) had a problem internationally. So their strategy was to train more and more people of Indian origin. So they approached the SIMI and Indian Mujahideen and coordinated with them.
“SIMI provided the money and execution support to the Indian Mujahideen,” he added.
The police said they had seized a laptop from the Jamia Nagar house, where two terrorists were gunned down after a fierce gun battle Friday morning, and found that they were inspired by Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.
"From whatever information we have got from the seized laptop, it's clear that they were inspired by the philosophy of Al Qaeda. They were inspired by Osama bin Laden.
"We have sent the laptop for forensic analysis. Documents and photographs related to terror activities have been seized. We recovered the photos of Osama Bin Laden and software techie Tauqir's photo from the laptop," Singh added.
Mumbai-based Abdul Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqir has been alleged to have masterminded the Sep 13 serial blasts in the capital that killed 24 people and left nearly 100 injured. He has been absconding.
The police said the militants had brought the bombs from Karnataka before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
"Mohammed Saif and Sajid went to Karnataka and bought 10 bombs to Delhi by train two or three days before the start of Ramadan. But one bomb was detected to be faulty at the last moment and, therefore, was not planted," Sing said in a press briefing.
He, however, said that one live bomb was yet to be recovered.
"They have thrown the faulty bomb in a drain near Batla House (in Jamia Nagar). Then there is a live bomb somewhere near the Regal cinema hall (in Connaught Place) but we haven't recovered them so far," said a senior police official.
Delhi Police had defused one bomb near the same cinema hall Sep 13.
"It was Atif (one of the two terrorists who were killed Friday) who used to send e-mails to various people including media organisations (about the Indian Mujahideen taking responsibility for the blasts). He was the main co-coordinator of sharing information amongst various organisations," Singh added.
The police said they used to roam around the country on fake voter identity cards.
“Saif and Zeeshan had made fake voter ID cards in the name of Rahul Sharma and Pankaj respectively and travelled to Gujarat on the fake identities.
“They also availed mobile phone connections on the basis of these fake ID cards. We have seized mobile phones in which they have clicked the video of the Jaipur blasts,” Singh said.
Explaining the modus operandi of the module Singh said: “All of them travelled to Jaipur May 13 in a bus and bought cycles and planted the bombs on them.”
Then they started preparing for the Ahmedabad blasts. “Eleven to 12 people from Delhi went to Ahmedabad July 10 for a recce. Three to four stayed back and others returned to Delhi on July 17.
“All those who returned went to Ahmedabad on July 23, manufactured and planted bombs with the help of the local supporters, few of whom were arrested in Ahmedabad,” Singh said.
At least 65 people were killed in the serial blasts in Jaipur May 13, while 56 people were killed in the July 26 Ahmedabad blasts.
“In Delhi these terrorists went for a recce Sep 11 and clicked photos of the sites,” Singh added.
Five bombs went off in quick succession in the capital's busy market places Sep 13, killing 24 people and injuring nearly 100 others.
Indo-Asian News Service
Delhi Blasts: Karol Bagh, CP, G-K 1, Barakhamba road
Four explosions in quick succession shook the capital on Saturday evening.
Police say the first blast, in Karol Bagh, was the result of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinder explosion while it is still not immediately clear blasts, in Greater Kailash-I and Connaught Place, were terror blasts.
There were two blasts in Greater Kailash-I.
Two people were injured in the first blast in the busy Gaffar market of Karol Bagh in Central Delhi.
The explosion took place in a CNG cylinder in an auto rickshaw in Gaffar Market, the hub of mobile shops. Ambulances and police rushed to the spot.
Other Reports say:
Three explosions in capital, injuries reported
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Three explosions in quick succession shook the capital Saturday evening. It was not immediately clear if the second and third blasts, in Greater Kailash and Connaught Place, were terror blasts, but the police said the first blast, in Karol Bagh, was the result of a CNG cylinder explosion.
Two people were injured in the first blast in the busy Gaffar market of Karol Bagh in Central Delhi.
The explosion took place in a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cylinder in an auto rickshaw in Gaffar Market, the hub of mobile shops. Ambulances and police rushed to the spot.
Police asked people not to panic.