2007 Karachi bombing

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[[Category:Current events as of {{#time:F Y|October 2007}}]]

2007 Karachi bombings
Video still captured by the news media at the time of the explosion
Location	Karachi, Pakistan
Target(s)	Benazir Bhutto and her supporters
Date	October 18, 2007
Attack type	Suicide attack, bomb
Deaths	136+ ^[1]
Injured	450+^[2]
Perpetrator(s)	Unknown

The 2007 Karachi bombing of October 18, 2007 in Karachi, Pakistan, was an attack on a motorcade carrying former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The bombing resulted in at least 136 deaths and 450 injuries.^[1]^[2]^[3] Most of the dead were members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The bombing

The streets of Karachi ground to a halt to welcome the return of Benazir Bhutto, after an eight-year self-imposed exile during which she lived in Dubai and London. Two explosions occurred in front of the rallying truck from which she greeted her fans and party members at approximately 00:52 PST, on the route about halfway from the airport to the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah for a scheduled rally, just after Bhutto's truck had crossed a bridge.^[4] Police vehicles bore the brunt of the blasts, which completely destroyed three police vans and killed at least 20 policemen in the vehicles.^[5] Conflicting reports indicate that Bhutto, who was not injured in the attack, was either sitting on top of the truck^[3] or had just climbed into the compartment of the truck at the time of the explosion.^[6]

Bhutto was escorted to her residence, Bilawal House. The victims were rushed to Jinnah Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. In a press conference on 19 October 2007, Bhutto claimed that her security team were unable to prevent the attack due to the streetlights being turned off, and called for an inquiry into why this happened.^[2]

On October 20, the Police released a photograph of the suspect responsible for the suicide attack.^[7]

Reaction

Pakistan

President Pervez Musharraf called the attacks a "conspiracy against democracy".^[3]
Benazir Bhutto: "It is dignitaries of the former regime of General Zia who are today behind the extremism and the fanaticism."^[8]
Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's husband: "I blame the government for these blasts. It is the work of the intelligence agencies."^[9]

Other countries

Australia: Prime Minister John Howard said "It's too early to be certain but it looks very much like the work of al-Qaeda. Benazir Bhutto, to her credit, as well as General Musharraf, have both said they will continue to support the Americans in the war on terror," he said. "It is a reminder of the evil of al-Qaeda. It is a reminder of how important it is not to concede a victory to them in Iraq or in Afghanistan."news.com.au
Canada: Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the bombings were "an appalling act of violence", and "urged all parties in Pakistan to adhere to the rule of law and to continue to build the conditions for free and fair parliamentary elections"^[10]
France: "Nicolas Sarkozy condemns the attack which targeted Benazir Bhutto and which has left numerous victims. He sends France's condolences and his sympathy to the president and to the political authorities in Pakistan as well as to the families of the victims."^[11]
India: Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Ms. Bhutto and conveyed his condolences on the involved loss of life ^[12]. While Dr. Singh’s separate letters to Ms. Bhutto and Gen. Parvez Musharraf condemned “terrorism and extremism in all its forms,” the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mr Lal Kishan Advani, rang up Ms Bhutto to personally express his solidarity with her. India’s foreign ministry spokesman expressed outrage and anger felt in the country.
United Kingdom:
- Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said "I was deeply shocked to learn of the bomb blasts in Karachi that have killed over a hundred people and injured so many others. I am appalled by this horrific use of violence against entirely innocent people...On behalf of the British Government please accept my sincerest condolences for those Pakistanis who have lost their lives. You can be assured of the United Kingdom's continuing support to work with all those committed to building a peaceful and democratic Pakistan" ^[13]
- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, said "I condemn utterly the use of violence against entirely innocent people and the attempt to suppress the right of Pakistanis to express their democratic voice. I share the shock of the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom at these horrific attacks".
United States:
- U.S. Department of State spokesperson Tom Casey: "There is no political cause that can justify the murder of innocent people. Those responsible seek only to foster fear and limit freedom. The United States stands with the people of Pakistan to eliminate terrorist threats, and to build a more open, democratic, and peaceful society."^[1]
- U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe stated that "The United States condemns the violent attack in Pakistan and mourns the loss of innocent life there," "Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process."^[9]

International organisations

Commonwealth of Nations: Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations Don McKinnon condemned the attack, stating "The legitimate aspirations of the people of Pakistan to enjoy peace, stability, prosperity and a democratic way of life must not be allowed to be thwarted by senseless acts of violence". ^[14]
United Nations: A statement issued by a spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon read, "(Ban Ki-moon) strongly condemns this terrorist attack and expresses condolences to the families of the victims. He trusts that all political forces will act together to strengthen national unity." ^[15]