<p><br />The attackers, who drove up to the luxury hotel Pearl Continental's gate in a white car and a mini truck shortly before 10.30 pm last night, opened fire after guards opened the gate and lowered a concrete barrier.</p>.<p>The car and the truck then drove at high speed towards the parking lot of the hotel. The CCTV footage, aired by Geo News channel, showed a flash caused by a massive explosion that followed minutes later and plumes of smoke rising into the air.</p>.<p>Police officials said at least five terrorists were involved in the attack. About 500 kg of explosives packed in the truck was set off by a suicide bomber, they said. A section of the hotel collapsed following the blast.</p>.<p>Sixteen people, including three foreigners, were killed and over 50 others injured in the bombing, the latest in a series of attacks carried out by militants in retaliation for military operations against Taliban in Swat Valley.</p>.<p>Dozens of foreigners working for UN agencies and international relief organisations were staying in the Pearl Continental. </p>.<p>Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior minister in the North West Frontier Province government, did not rule out the possibility of an employee of the Pearl Continental being involved in the attack.</p>.<p>"Unless a person from the hotel was involved, it would not be possible for a vehicle (with explosives) to enter the compound. Despite security arrangements, a vehicle with 500 kg of explosives entered the area," Bilour told reporters in Peshawar.</p>.<p>He said it was not possible to prevent such attacks at a time when the NWFP was in a "state of war". The terrorists wanted to create fear through such attacks but the provincial government would not be cowed down, he said.</p>.<p>"We will fight to the last breath and we are confident that we will rid the country of terrorists," Bilour said.</p>.<p>No group claimed responsibility for the attack but Bilour said it was the handiwork of the Taliban.</p>.<p>He said it was unfortunate that foreigners who had come to join relief programmes for people displaced by the fighting in Swat were targeted in the attack</p>
<p><br />The attackers, who drove up to the luxury hotel Pearl Continental's gate in a white car and a mini truck shortly before 10.30 pm last night, opened fire after guards opened the gate and lowered a concrete barrier.</p>.<p>The car and the truck then drove at high speed towards the parking lot of the hotel. The CCTV footage, aired by Geo News channel, showed a flash caused by a massive explosion that followed minutes later and plumes of smoke rising into the air.</p>.<p>Police officials said at least five terrorists were involved in the attack. About 500 kg of explosives packed in the truck was set off by a suicide bomber, they said. A section of the hotel collapsed following the blast.</p>.<p>Sixteen people, including three foreigners, were killed and over 50 others injured in the bombing, the latest in a series of attacks carried out by militants in retaliation for military operations against Taliban in Swat Valley.</p>.<p>Dozens of foreigners working for UN agencies and international relief organisations were staying in the Pearl Continental. </p>.<p>Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior minister in the North West Frontier Province government, did not rule out the possibility of an employee of the Pearl Continental being involved in the attack.</p>.<p>"Unless a person from the hotel was involved, it would not be possible for a vehicle (with explosives) to enter the compound. Despite security arrangements, a vehicle with 500 kg of explosives entered the area," Bilour told reporters in Peshawar.</p>.<p>He said it was not possible to prevent such attacks at a time when the NWFP was in a "state of war". The terrorists wanted to create fear through such attacks but the provincial government would not be cowed down, he said.</p>.<p>"We will fight to the last breath and we are confident that we will rid the country of terrorists," Bilour said.</p>.<p>No group claimed responsibility for the attack but Bilour said it was the handiwork of the Taliban.</p>.<p>He said it was unfortunate that foreigners who had come to join relief programmes for people displaced by the fighting in Swat were targeted in the attack</p>