Explosion rocks UN office in the Pakistani capital, casualties feared
By APMonday, October 5, 2009
Blast at UN office in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD — An explosion inside the offices of the World Food Program in the Pakistani capital wounded six people Monday, police and witnesses said. Media reports said a foreigner had been killed.
TV footage showed smoke rising from the heavily fortified building and shattered windows.
Al-Qaida and Taliban militants have carried out scores of attacks in Pakistan over the last 2 1/2 years, a number of them targeting foreigners and their interests. Under U.S. pressure, Pakistani security forces are targeting the extremists in their strongholds in the northwest
Police officer Bin Yamin said there was an explosion inside the building in a residential part of the capital, Islamabad. He said six people were wounded.
Express news reported that one foreigner had been killed. That report could not be independently confirmed.
Speaking earlier, UN spokesman Ishrat Rizvi said the blast occurred close to the WFP offices.
The WFP is distributing food to poor Pakistanis, including those in the northwest.
