Explosion kills five in Islamabad

Islamabad, Aug 27: At least five people were killed and 14 injured in an explosion in a hotel near here on Tuesday, Aug 26, police said on Wednesday, Aug 27.

The explosion hit the compound of a restaurant on the outskirts of the capital when dozens of people were taking meals. Official sources told reporters that the blast was caused by an explosive device. Earlier, the police had described the incident as a gas cylinder blast, but a few minutes later they got suspicious and said the possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out. The blast was so devastating that it left a crater outside the hotel and severely damaged the restaurant, its furniture and a taxi parked nearby.

The incident occurred in the compound of the restaurant near a gas pipeline. However, Dawn newspaper quoted gas company officials as rejecting the notion that the blast had taken place in the pipeline.

There were some reports that a teenage boy carrying a shopping bag was seen loitering around the restaurant some moments before the blast.

Omer Wali, a cook, said he was cooking when the explosion occurred and he was not aware what caused the blast.

UNI