Security Update – 10 June 2009

A major suicide bomb attack hit the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar at about 2200 local time on 9 June. The attack marks the seventh fatal bombing in the north-west Pakistani city in the past month.

A police official stated that the outer security barrier of the hotel was stormed by gunmen riding in a truck before the vehicle, reportedly laden with over 500 kilograms of explosives, was blown up in the car park. 11 fatalities have been confirmed, including a Serbian United Nations (UN) employee, with at least 52 others injured. The death toll is expected to increase as rescue workers continued their work during the night.

The Pearl Continental is the most prominent hotel in Peshawar and is regularly frequented by government officials, businessmen and foreign dignitaries. A spokesman for the World Food Programme in Pakistan stated that at least 25 UN workers were staying at the hotel when the attack occurred. Early reports also claimed that a member of parliament and a provincial minister were amongst the casualties.

International Operations Group - Analysis

Peshawar has been hit by a series of bombings since the Pakistani government began a crackdown on Taliban militants in the Swat Valley region in April. The city has been on heightened security alert during the past week after intelligence agencies warned of upcoming attacks on landmark buildings. Taliban leaders warned on 27 May that revenge attacks would occur in response to the military offensive and they claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Lahore in May that resulted in 28 fatalities. There are similarities between the Lahore and Peshawar bomb attacks, with militants opening fire on guards to allow a suicide bomber to enter a secured area in both cases. 

Major international hotels frequented by foreigners are likely targets for terrorist attacks in Pakistan. A bomb at Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel in September 2008 left 53 dead and 250 injured while December’s Mumbai attacks in India resulted in 170 fatalities. The Pearl Continental was considered to be the safest place to stay in Peshawar with security being a top priority at the hotel. Vehicles are checked as they enter the premises past heavy concrete barriers, before visitors are screened with metal detectors and bags are searched. South Asian hotel security representatives have claimed that without government assistance they are helpless to prevent heavily armed attacks.

International Operations Group - Advice

No part of Pakistan is safe from terrorism at present and, although terrorists predominantly target the authorities, locations frequented by foreign personnel are at high risk. Companies should ensure that their personnel exercise a heightened state of vigilance and take extra security precautions in Pakistan. Personnel should keep away from government installations, uniformed personnel, security facilities and crowded areas in towns and cities (including places of worship, markets and areas frequented by westerners) as much as possible. Personnel should also avoid loitering around major hotel lobbies and ensure that their chosen hotel has adequate security procedures.

All business-related travel to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, North West Frontier province, North and Western Balochistan, border regions, the city of Peshawar and the Swat region should be avoided and companies with interests and personnel in these regions should exercise extreme caution. Non-essential business travel to Quetta should also be avoided.

International Operations Group - Assistance

International Operations Group provides intelligence and crisis management support for corporate and individual clients across the globe. We are able to provide support and advice to organisations with personnel and interests in Pakistan and other areas where critical incidents occur.

Please email us at intel@interopsgroup.com or telephone us on +61 2 8003 3933 for additional information or confidential support.

For more information on our fee-based intelligence updates or bespoke reporting, please email Rob Stevenson - rob@interopsgroup.com. Rob can also be telephoned on +61 [0] 420 244 909.