Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Pakistan blames Taliban for UN blast

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-06 14:06

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan blamed Taliban militants Tuesday for the deadly suicide bombing at the UN food agency's heavily fortified compound in the capital as authorities detained some of the guards posted outside to try to determine how the attacker gained entry.

Police and security forces survey UN World Food Programme (WFP) offices in Islamabad after a suicide bomb attack October 5, 2009. [Agencies]

The suicide bomber, who killed five people at the World Food Program's Pakistan headquarters Monday afternoon, was dressed as a security officer and was allowed to enter - apparently bypassing the normal security procedures - after asking the guards outside if he could used the bathroom.

Related readings:  Pakistan Taliban head talks to reporters  One killed in blast at UN office in Pakistan  Suicide bombs kill 16, wound about 150 in Pakistan  2 car bombs kill 12, wound scores in Pakistan  US, other nations pledge support for Pakistan

Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters Tuesday that the Taliban carried out the attack to avenge the Aug. 5 slaying of their leader Baitullah Mehsud in a US drone attack.

"We should expect a few more (attacks)," he said.

After the attack, the UN announced it was temporarily closing all its offices in Pakistan, but said its Pakistani partner organizations would continue distributing food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance. The world body said it would reassess the situation over the next several days.

Malik, who was visiting those injured in the bombing at a Pakistani hospital, said the government had taken several of the guards outside the UN offices into custody for questioning as part of the investigation into the security lapse.

"All the security arrangements were in place at the UN office," he said.