Bhutto's arrival kills many people

October 19, 2007 (Karachi): Two massive blasts rocked former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's motorcade in Karachi early on Friday morning, killing at least 135 people and injuring over 545 others.The blasts, which reports indicate were suicide attacks, took place a few feet away from Bhutto's convoy.Witnesses said they heard an explosion that was followed by another one that occurred just to the left of Bhutto's armoured truck. Bhutto had left the unprotected, open-air perch of the truck and gone below just before the explosions took place.

The first bomb exploded from the left side of the truck, causing party workers to fall on each other; then the second blast struck when people were trying to get up and many were injured as they leapt off the truck when it caught fire.Pakistan People's Party spokesperson Farhatullah Babar has confirmed that Bhutto is safe and has reached her home Bilawal House in a police car.

However, Rehman Malik, one of Bhutto's advisers, was injured in the attack and taken to a hospital. Bhutto was leading a caravan to the mausoleum of Pakistan's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, where she was to address a rally. The rally was cancelled after the explosions. Many among those feared killed in the explosions were part of Bhutto's massive motorcade.

After the attacks, security forces immediately cordoned off the area. A high alert has been sounded in Karachi and an emergency has been declared at all government hospitals in the city.The Inspector General of Sindh has insisted that the attack on Friday was the handiwork of suicide bombers.''It is very difficult to identify and stop a suicide bomber in such a large crowd.

It is not easy. Whenever there is a suicide attack, the security plan is not to blame. The DIG investigation has been called in and he will look into this case with his team,'' he said.Schools and colleges in Karachi will remain closed on Friday, GEO TV reported - citing a statement issued by the provincial government.