Pakistan blast: kills at least 27

ISLAMABAD, Sept 20, 2008 (AFP) - At least 27 people were killed in a massive car bombing at the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistan capital Islamabad on Saturday and many people are trapped inside the burning building, police said.

Flames were seen shooting out of the hotel, a key meeting place for foreigners and one of the most carefully guarded sites in the city, after the powerful blast, which was heard from quite far away.

Police officials said it appeared to be a car bombing but could not confirm it had been a suicide attack. Ambulances were racing to the scene, and it was not immediately known how many people were wounded.

"At least 27 people were killed," local police officer Khalid Khan told AFP. Another officer at the scene said many people were still trapped in the hotel, which caught fire after the bombing on Saturday night.