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| India-Pakistan |
| Five bombs used in bid on Musharraf’s life |
| 2003-12-16 |
| Five remote-controlled bombs were used in the assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf at the weekend, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said Tuesday. Would-be attackers planted five explosive devices, which detonated almost simultaneously and blew up a bridge seconds after General Musharraf’s motorcade passed on Sunday evening, he said. The bombs were highly sophisticated Rashid told a foreign news agency. This type of device was never used in the country in the past, he said. Five to six people have been questioned over the attack but no arrests have been made, the minister said. Those who planted the bombs were the ‘most expert people,’ he said. If they were so expert, how did they miss? |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 More details: A sophisticated bomb containing about 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of explosive was used in the recent assassination attempt against Pakistan's military leader, officials said Tuesday. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said explosive was planted in five places beneath the two-lane bridge which President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's motorcade passed seconds before the blast happened Sunday evening. "This was done by very expert men. Such a bomb has never been used in Pakistan before,'' Ahmed told The Associated Press. He said investigators haven't identified the type of explosive, and that he did not know the quantity. But an Interior Ministry official familiar with the investigation said Pakistani army bomb experts estimated about 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of explosive was used in the bomb -- which destroyed a section of a concrete bridge that spans a stream in Rawalpindi. The official, who declined to be named, gave no details about the type of explosive. Earlier officials said seven people were being held, including three police officers who were meant to be on duty at the bridge at the time of the bombing. The Interior Ministry official said the three officers were still being interrogated. The official declined to say whether the officers had abandoned their posts -- although officials did confirm the officers were uninjured by the blast. Five 110 lb charges of explosives wired to go off at the same time, a very professional job. Takes time to set charges like that, plus his route was supposed to be classified. They have the cops who were supposed to be guarding the bridge, they'll talk. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-12-16 10:25:46 AM |