Radio Netherlands : 130 killed in attack on Bhutto

130 killed in attack on Bhutto

October 19, 2007

Karachi - In the Pakistani city of Karachi, over 130 people have died and nearly 400 have been injured in an attack on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Mrs Bhutto herself was unharmed. The attack targetted the bus from which the former prime minister was greeting the crowds that had gathered to welcome her back to Pakistan after eight years in exile.

Police say a grenade was thrown into the crowd and a suicide bomber blew himself up near the bus. Most of the victims were supporters of Mrs Bhutto but 20 policemen are also known to be among the dead.

It is still not clear who is behind the attack. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have both issued recent threats against Mrs Bhutto's life because she has said she is prepared to cooperate with President Pervez Musharraf and has good relations with the United States.