RAWALPINDI - Two suicide car bombings killed at least 20 people Saturday in near simultaneous attacks on Pakistani security forces in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, security sources said. Military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said both attacks were car bombs, one targeting a bus carrying security forces personnel and the other a checkpost outside army headquarters. He said at least 15 people were confirmed dead in the bus attack and three security officers were critically wounded at the checkpost. However, security sources told AFP that the toll was higher, with at least 19 dead on the bus so far and one at the checkpoint.
Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, is where military ruler President Pervez Musharraf has his army offices.
“There were two suspected suicide attacks and there are casualties,” Arshad told AFP earlier. “One was at a checkpost near (army) general headquarters in Rawalpindi and the other was on a bus of security forces.”
Witnesses said a burned-out bus could be seen parked just inside the gates of a military spy agency, with dozens of ambulances stationed around. Police and security forces were not allowing anyone near.