Blast but "no bomb" in Pakistani cities


REUTERS
Reuters North American News Service

Jun 30, 2008 01:17 EST

ISLAMABAD, June 30 (Reuters) - A loud blast alarmed residents and
security officials in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and nearby
city of Rawalpindi on Monday but police later said it appeared it had
been a sonic boom.

Residents of both cities heard a big blast just before 11 a.m. (0500
GMT).

"We have checked everywhere in Rawalpindi, all the main areas and
hospitals, but there is nothing," a senior city police official said
about 45 minutes after the blast was heard.

"It could have been a sonic boom but we are still investigating."

A Pakistani air force spokesmen said none of their aircraft had been
over the city at the time of the blast.

A military official said there had been no bomb at any of the main
military installations in Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the
Pakistani army and the home of President Pervez Musharraf.

Militants have launched several bomb attacks in both Rawalpindi and
Islamabad over the past year.