Islamabad bombing

This item appears on page 18 of the November 2008 issue.

Just hours after Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as the new president of Pakistan on Sept. 20, a truck bomb exploded in front of the Marriott in Islamabad. Hotel security managed to stop the truck in front of the hotel, but the enormous blast killed at least 50 people, injured more than 260 and caused extensive damage and a fire.

Diplomats, foreign travelers and hotel security personnel were among the dead.

British Airways indefinitely suspended all flights to and from Islamabad.