Blast Strikes Pakistani Police Station

As Many As 19 People Dead In Islamabad Explosion

(CBS/AP)  CBS News' Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad contributed to this report.

---

A notorious Pakistani tribal warlord with strong links to al Qaeda and the Taliban is at the center of investigation Sunday night following a brutal suicide attack in Islamabad which, according to some accounts, killed up to 19 people, mostly policemen.

Baitullah Mehsud, the tribal warlord who has led an anti-government insurgency in the rugged mountainous region of Waziristan, close to the Afghan border, was being investigated for the attack, a senior Pakistani security official told CBS News on condition of anonymity.

In May of this year, the Pakistani military arranged a visit to a remote town in Waziristan for Western news organizations (including CBS), where debris of a suicide training school was shown to journalists. At the time, Pakistani officials claimed that the school, which operated in a leather production factory, housed children as young as twelve who were trained to carry out suicide attacks.

On Sunday, speaking about an hour after the attack in central Islamabad, the Pakistani security official said authorities had found "some clues which give a strong possibility of a Waziristan connection, a Baitullah Mehsud connection." He refused to discuss further details of the evidence that was under investigation.

Anger over the Waziristan assault is still strong, reports CBS News Correspondent Richard Roth, and some believe the latest suicide bombing was a revenge attack.

But Pakistanis bent on violence have a catalog of complaints against the government. It includes the country's pledged partnership with America on anti-terror efforts along the border with Afghanistan and cooperation in the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

The blast occurred in a kiosk in front of the police station, which is also near Islamabad's Melody Market, said Naeem Iqbal, a police spokesman. Television footage showed wounded security forces being taken away and ambulances rushing to the area.

Just moments before the explosion, an Associated Press reporter passed by the scene and saw more than 20 security forces gathered in the vicinity.

After the blast, a traffic intersection in the area was splattered with blood. Body parts were scattered as far as 50 yards from the scene. Shattered glass also covered the area, which police cordoned off.

The casualties were mostly policemen and officers stationed near a congregation of Islamists which had been called to commemorate the first anniversary of last summer’s attack by the Pakistani military on a Taliban-style mosque in the center of the Pakistani capital.

The explosion also came following recent threats of revenge from militants in Pakistan angered by a paramilitary operation against insurgents in the tribal northwest.

Since Saturday, Pakistani authorities had tightened security and regularly checked cars, buses and trucks driving into the city.

After Sunday night’s attack, Rehman Malik, adviser on interior affairs to the Pakistani prime minister, said the death of at least eight people had been confirmed. Talking to reporters after visiting the scene of the attack, Malik said, "There are at least 23 other people who are injured."

However, Pakistani broadcaster GEO TV quoted hospital sources saying at least nineteen people were killed in the attack.

Western diplomats warned that the attack was a powerful reminder of uncertain security conditions faced by Pakistan, almost five months after a new government consisting of political parties opposed to pro-U.S. president Pervez Musharraf came to power.

Last week, after a visit to Pakistan, U.S. assistant secretary of state for central and south Asia Richard Boucher publicly urged the newly-elected government leaders to set aside their continued opposition to Musharraf and instead focus on key issues, including security and an increasingly moribund economy.

[bladan58z]

The Saudis funnel money to Bin Laden for the ethnic cleansing of rank and file Arabs. Why should the Coalition tolerate Bin Laden''s genocidal activity? The Allies forced Hitler to cease his holocaust of the German and Jewish People. Arabs throughout the Middle East are vulnerable to Bin Laden''s murderous attacks. George W. Bush treats Bin Laden like a Head of State.

[mcvet]

So, while the U.S. blows its'''' own horn and shouts mission accomplished in Iraq all over the news headlines, the truth is that Afghanistan and Pakistan have become the new battle fronts for al Qaeda. When we start paying attention to those countries, al Qaeda will move back into Iraq. This is why there is no winning this occupation and we''''re wasting young people''''s lives in the process of figuring this all out for ourselves. Wake the fu*k up, you G.D. fools!

Posted by RandyNason at 11:38 PM : Jul 06, 2008

How many of us, the Vietnam Veterans, were SCREAMING this to the top of our lungs when the Idiot in charge broke off pursuit of the Taliban and went into Iraq? WE knew from long bitter experience on this. The color may be different, the religion different, but the situation is the same. ARROGANCE will do this EVERY time.

[mcvet]

Another atrocity, and FEEL FREE ? Are you a crazy jeehiadist ? YOu are always rooting for the bad guys. Are you a NAZI ? The NAZIS and the current crop of PLO and what dereck followed were/ are brothers. Just look at MEMRI . ORG and decide for yourself. Feeel Free to go back under the rock, in the case , next to your pals.

Posted by colonieNY at 02:22 AM : Jul 07, 2008

You know THIS has always puzzled me about fascist! THEY never, ever, understand the concept of Different Opinions and when they are unable to put someone in one of their boxes, they create another one. Like this poor freak they are always un-educated and ignorant of both our history and the world. Now listen carefully you pathetic bootlicker. Nazi, Fascist... that''s all RADICAL RIGHT WING. Has been for as long as I have been alive and will remain that way. IF you wish to attack people for their Beliefs that''s YOUR right but PLEASE be accurate in your attacks. YOU are the NAZI and anyone who has read your post KNOWS that. Now lets stand... let the Fuhrer know you are doing all you can to stop free speech before his trial!! SING IT OUT!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[feelfree4u]

al-Mossad''da?

[tootall10142]

Itis so transparent that the law keepers cant keep the enemy from blowing up thier police stations how can we expect to bring our soldiers home when a entire country needs a baby sitter.As long as we stay they will continue to be supported by our blood and our tax money.Its no wonder our youth does not want to join our armed forces our so called commander in chief keeps sending our fighting men and women to kill for others when they hide thier head in the bloody sand.we haqve plenty of desert for these people and can drill wells.

[juwboy]

colonieNY:

FeelFreek4U is a subhuman Arab jihadist, posing as a patriotic American.

[feelfree4u]

Posted by colonieNY at 02:22 AM,

Take a breath. You appear to be blowing a fuse.

I posted like 9 words here. You sure seem to have read a lot into them.

[colonieny]

Another atrocity, and FEEL FREE ? Are you a crazy jeehiadist ? YOu are always rooting for the bad guys. Are you a NAZI ? The NAZIS and the current crop of PLO and what dereck followed were/ are brothers. Just look at MEMRI . ORG and decide for yourself. Feeel Free to go back under the rock, in the case , next to your pals.

[achilles281]

global positioning bend over and I will show you who is getting stronger....pus boy....

[randynason]

So, while the U.S. blows its'' own horn and shouts mission accomplished in Iraq all over the news headlines, the truth is that Afghanistan and Pakistan have become the new battle fronts for al Qaeda. When we start paying attention to those countries, al Qaeda will move back into Iraq. This is why there is no winning this occupation and we''re wasting young people''s lives in the process of figuring this all out for ourselves. Wake the fu*k up, you G.D. fools!

[randynason]

This past seven years, everything the U.S. touches turns to sh*t. The terrorists laugh at Bush, because he makes their job to dismantle the Middle East so much easier.

[hungry1968]

Al Qaeda can still strike at will, on their terms, whenever they wish, KNOWING dammn well that NOTHING will be done to apprehend their leadership. Of course they''re going to keep attacking!!

Nothing has changed in regard to these vile, evil terrorists. The war on terror is still being lost, because all of our focus was instead placed on Iraq. A country that DID nothing to us and posed NO THREAT to us. And all that it cost us was TRILLIONS of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives lost.

NOTHING has changed in al Qaeda''s view, it is epic failure.

[coco0331]

C.I.A. instagating war in Pakistani. The new war will be Pakistan against Afganistan.

[rgmiron]

Islam in Pakistan is a real Global threat. Those Idiots in france have provided an Islamic country with the means to reap nuclear destruction on itself , as well as it''s neighbors, through Submarines.
Why would those morons in europe give those 12th century nutcases modern weapons. MONEY KNOW DOUBT!!
Payback for such ignorance has got to be a ***!!

Oh Yah, achilles281 your an Idiot!!

[achilles281]

correction;its really easy to sit here and post moronic ideas ...clueless freaks......if it was so easy to fight the pashtuns ...we would have already done it ...they are the master of their terrain and they know extremly well how to fight in the mountains...I bet some of you will s-hit in your pants just by looking at those mountains.....face it you and the pakis can''''t do nothing about it....come back home before more of you parish with the zionist doctrines....learn from the russian failure...stop acting like a doomed macho man....

[achilles281]

its really easy to sit here and post moronic idea ...clueless freaks......if it was so easy to fight the pashtuns ...we would have already done it ...they are the master of their terrain and they know extremly well how to fight in the mountains...I bet some of you will s-hit in your pants just by looking at those mountains.....face it you and the pakis can''t do nothing about it....come back home before more of you parish with the zionist doctrines....learn from the russian failure...stop acting like a doomed macho man....

[whiskyrocker]

Big deal

[randynason]

Those al Quada are such joke-sters. They''re almost as funny as the CIA stand-ups and those Blackwater comics. Who''ll be the Last One Standing- in line for water and fresh ammo? Tune in, folks-

[mabangash]

edintex ******* - there are 40 million pakthuns in Pakistan every man and child armed to the teeth.

Let pakistan deal with its own problems - *********

[edintex]

All the Pakistan government has to do to end this problem with the warlord is first surround Waziristan with loyal troops. Then give the U.S. permission to enter Waziristan and commence cleaning activities at will. Turn on the lights and the roaches will start scurrying. (Sorry for the insult roaches)