Suicide Bomb kills at least 6 people in Danish Embassy

Monday, 2. June 2008, 14:31:01

At 1300 hours today in Islamabad, Pakistan a car with red Corps Diplomatique plates rolled up in front of the Danish embassy. Seconds after, the car exploded from what seems to be a powerful suicide bomb.

As I write, media report that at least six people are killed from the explosion. At least 35 others are wounded.

The Danish embassy in Pakistan has been the target of demonstrations multiple times since the controversy about the Danish Mohammad Cartoons a couple of years ago. Nobody has so far taken responsibility for the terrorist attack, so I can't be sure what the exact reason for the attack could be.

My guess is, though, that it's about either the infamous cartoons or the fact that Denmark is a part of the war in Afghanistan.

This is the first time ever that Denmark has been the victim and direct target of militant extreme Islamists.

A spokesman for the Pakistani Community in Denmark says, that these people don't seem to understand that they make life difficult for 50000 Pakistanis living in Denmark. And he at the same time condemns these extreme actions, stating that if they really loved Mohammad and Allah, they would never perform such un-Islamic actions in the first place.

The Danish PM, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, says that these are actions of cowards and vilans - and that Danish politics won't be affected at all by terrorist actions.

This here humble blogger ads, that in my opinion this has nothing to do at all with the people of Pakistan - but it has everything to do with the ongoing battle between the extreme versus the moderate in this globalized world. If I will have my way, the Pakistanis in Denmark can feel absolutely safe.

The picture is made by Anjum Naveed/Associated Press.

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Comments

I have heard that radical islamists threatened to make some actions against Danmark, so this is something that was expected. Do you know is any of Danish citizens among killed?
Sorry to hear about that happened

By gdare, # 2. June 2008, 14:37:39

I don't know the nationalities of the killed, but I've been told that some are killed inside the embassy. I've also heard that the Danish Charge d'Affairs is alive and well under the circumstances.

Thanks.

By ricewood, # 2. June 2008, 14:39:16

" This here humble blogger ads, that in my opinion this has nothing to do at all with the people of Pakistan - but it has everything to do with the ongoing battle between the extreme versus the moderate in this globalized world. If have will have my way, the Pakistanis in Denmark can feel absolutely safe."

You are right in all that you say. I here, in the island not so far from where you are, feel the same sentiments. The 'battle' - I almost said "struggle", but there is no pseudo or quasi 'Crusader vs Saracen' element in my mind or heart - is to win the hearts and minds of ordinary people.

It is a grim fact that those who perpetrate the ghastly car bomb outrages and other similar horrendous actions do so in the belief that they are winning hearts and minds among those who step forward as recruits (indeed, Britain has its own british born 'recruits' who are seemingly drawn deeply in and then overtaken by a passion and a willingness to die withour fear or regret, but in a 'joyfulness' of then being transported to Paradise as a blessed Saint).

We have to win the hearts and minds of those who live among us and could perhaps do something to deter the hatred that has / is arising among some of their own children / grand children.

The latest atrocity makes this more difficult, but we must all try to understand that the majority of Pakistanis, and others, who live and are born within our borders are good and decent people too. We must do our utmost to reassure them that we will not brand them with the same hatred that emanates from the bombers.

I extend my condolence for lives lost and suffering of families. I wish I could adeqautely express my sorrow for their loss.

By lokutus_prime, # 2. June 2008, 14:51:08

Ugh - how horrible! When will this pointless cycle of violence end? Such people are anti-life, cloaking their nihilism in fanatacism and religious intolerance. All those who suffered and their relatives have my deepest sympathy.

By musickna, # 2. June 2008, 15:46:20

We all agree here, Lokutus and Richard.

More here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7430721.stm

By ricewood, # 2. June 2008, 16:00:17

What with the recent tragedies to human life brought brought about by natural disasters (China's earthquake, Burma's cyclone, etc.), it's really very saddening to be reminded that there are humans out there still willing to make their own contributions to the loses.

By Shinjitsu_13, # 2. June 2008, 19:33:10

Very well said Shinjitsu

By misund007, # 2. June 2008, 21:38:16

I'll second that, Asgeir. Today's comment.

By ricewood, # 2. June 2008, 21:57:59

When I heard about this recent atrocity, I immediately thought of you, Allan, and others here on MyOpera, and how you must be feeling having had your country as the target of these cowards. I remember my feelings after my country and so many others were targeted in September, 2001, and the indescribable sadness I felt at the loss of life because of bigotry, fanaticism, jealousy and greed.

Please know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

By Stardancer, # 2. June 2008, 23:23:57

Religion could do so much good in the world if it concentrated on spreading tolerance and empathy and, yes, feelings of good will if love cannot be attained. Schools could do this, too.

Too many with the gift of blab can turn words inside out and round about to use religion as a tool of hatred and enmity and brainwash others to believe that killings and bombings actually accomplish something other than fostering hatred and relegating a cause to the level of garbage in many people's minds.

I am so sad to hear of the bombing, Allan. May no more occur.

By momable, # 3. June 2008, 03:20:11

Shinjitsu has summed it up very well. So very sad to hear about this, like Stardancer I thought of you too. I just don't understand what people can be thinking when the comit acts such as this.

By cakkleberrylane, # 3. June 2008, 11:39:54

Thanks for the support, all. Even though this is a global problem. This is not about Denmark or the west. In my opinion an action like the above mentioned is an attack on every decent human being in this world.

Let's all, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Atheists and everybody else, unite, stand side by side, in order to isolate those ready to make atrocities like this averywhere and at all times.

By ricewood, # 3. June 2008, 16:57:53

"In my opinion an action like the above mentioned is an attack on every decent human being in this world."

I agree completely, Allan. That's why I referenced the attacks of September, 2001. Those attacks were physically on United States soil, but much more than United States citizens, or just Christians, or even just Westerners, died that day. Citizens of many, many nations; many, many religions; and of both Eastern and Western Hemispheres were attacked and killed. It was an attack on the "World Community", and a deliberate, evil and perverse attempt to destroy that community.

The attack on the Danish Embassy in Pakistan is a continuation of that attempt. And you are right. We must all stand together to fight and stop these few from such carnage.

By Stardancer, # 3. June 2008, 17:53:27

cowards will always fail because they are weak. we are strong and we are all together in your opinions. there are more strong people on this earth than the cowards ever imagined! i don't even think the twenty/eighty rule applies in this situation. i'd bet there are 99.9 percent strong people to every .01 percent cowards. now, if we can curb the greedy manipulative personalities we might have a chance at world peace!

By 1bluebox, # 4. June 2008, 15:47:21

Good comments here!

If Deborah is right (welcome to my humble weblog, by the way), and she could very well be, it should be quite easy to take control over that last .01%.

What to do? Laugh at them? Arguments or brute force obviously won't do the trick.

By ricewood, # 4. June 2008, 20:54:23

i think we should turn into manipulative greedy people and recuite them towards a peaceful existance. ah, it is just a dream.

By 1bluebox, # 4. June 2008, 22:36:24

"ah, it is just a dream"

... often the first step toward making something happen.

By lokutus_prime, # 5. June 2008, 00:06:13