A suicide motorcyclist in Pakistan set off a blast Thursday by ramming his explosive-laden vehicle into an air force bus, killing eight people, it was reported.

The incident, in which 40 others were wounded, occurred in Sargodha in Punjab Province, Geo TV reported. The province is home to Pakistan’s largest air force base.

“The bus was carrying trainee flying officers when it was attacked by the suicide bomber,” said Brigadier Javed Cheema, an Interior Ministry spokesman. “Eight air force officials died in the terrorist attack.”

Another military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, was quoted as saying, “It was a suicide attack and the target was the bus which was carrying the air force officials.”

It was the second such attack this week, targeting Pakistan’s military and security forces. On Tuesday, a suicide bomber set off a blast in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi, less than half a mile from where Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf maintains an office.

The president was not hurt but the blast, now suspected to be the work of the Taliban and al-Qaida, killed the attacker and seven others, including three policemen.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International




Publication date: 01 November 2007   

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