CIA officials, marines targeted in Islamabad blast

Scary

Islamabad , Sept 20 (ANI): Several senior officers of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who are reported to be currently visiting Islamabad were the target of the blast at the Marriott Hotel which took place here tonight.

Well placed sources said that Marriott Hotel is usual hotel choice of the US officials and it seems that militants tipped off that certain high level US intelligence officers were currently staying at the hotel.

While no confirmation was available but Pakistan sources said it was clear that the explosion was aimed at specific targets based on a tip off.

This from another source

ISLAMABAD: US Marines staying at the Marriott Hotel may have been the target of Saturday's suicide attack that killed more than 60 people, security officials said.


They said that about 30 Marines were staying at the hotel and were scheduled to leave for Afghanistan early Sunday morning.

The Islamabad administration said that 40 people were killed and about 100 injured in the blast but eyewitnesses and hospital sources say that more than 60 people were killed.

One official said that the American security personnel were in Pakistan for the just-concluded visit by the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen.

But another source said that they had come to Islamabad Friday and were scheduled to leave for Afghanistan on Sunday morning.

"We believe that they can have been the target of the suicide attack," a senior security official told IANS. Otherwise, "we don't find any other reason for such an attack", he added.

The sources said that soon after the blast, US embassy officials reached the spot and were seen looking for the Marines who, according to the sources, were staying on the fourth floor of the hotel which was among the worst affected as the entire hotel turned into a blazing inferno with orange flames and thick smoke billowing out of its windows.

Canadian judge lets suspected terrorist remain free despite violating bail conditions

Welcome to Canada, where publishers are hauled before Star Chambers for printing cartoons and foreign terror suspects are released even after they violate the conditions of their bail.

A Federal Court judge has ruled that suspected terrorist Mohamed Harkat can remain free despite a "serious breach" of his bail conditions.

In a decision released Monday, Justice Eleanor Dawson rejected a request by the Canada Border Services Agency and Public Safety to put Harkat back in jail after his mother-in-law, who had helped guarantee his bail, moved out of their home without informing authorities.

Dawson also turned down the Crown's request that Harkat forfeit more than $100,000 in cash and bonds, saying the seizure would be unfair in light of the "unique and extraordinary circumstances" that led to his re-arrest Jan. 29.

Credit this story for providing full background information on who Harkat is unlike most stories I've seen recently.

Here's why Harkat is being held under a Security Certificate.

The Federal Court ruled previously that Harkat used an alias, travelled to Afghanistan and supported terrorism before he came to Canada - and that he lied about it when he entered the country.

Harkat has acknowledged he supported the Groupe islamique armee, or GIA , which authorities say seeks to establish an Islamic state in Algeria through the use of terrorist violence.

"Mr. Harkat's support of the GIA is consistent with support for the use of terrorist violence," the court ruled previously.

It said Harkat has assisted Islamic extremists who have come to Canada and that he associated with bin Laden lieutenant Abu Zubaida - since captured - in the early 1990s.

It also ruled that, since coming to Canada, Harkat had been in contact with people "known to be involved in Islamic militant activities."