World | Pakistan
Blast killed Bhutto, says Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard investigators say that Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto was killed by force of bomb blast and not by bullet.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 08:59 February 8, 2008
- Benazir Bhutto was killed during her December 27 campaign trail in Rawalpindi.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Islamabad: British detectives probing the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto said in their first report on Friday that she died from the impact of a bomb blast and not gun shots.
Forensic experts from Britain's Scotland Yard, who conducted the investigation in Pakistan for two- and-a-half weeks in January, gave a synopsis of its 70-page report to the Interior Ministry authorities.
The summary appeared to corroborate an earlier government version that Bhutto died of a fatal skull injury caused during the gun and suicide attack when her head struck the sunroof of her vehicle.
Friday's report said after firing his gun the attacker had blown himself up. "The blast caused a violent collision between Bhutto's head and the escape hatch area of the vehicle, causing a severe and fatal head injury," it said.
The New York Times in a report said the Scotland Yard inquiry determined that a lone gunman caused the blast and not two, as Pakistani officials initially said.
Controversy rages in Pakistan over whether Bhutto was shot dead during her December 27 campaign trail in Rawalpindi or died after a concussive injury caused by the blast.
The report comes a day after thousands gathered to mark the end of a 40-day mourning period for Bhutto and Pakistani authorities announced they had arrested two suspects.
- With input from agencies
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