On December 27th 2007, the former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in Liagat Bagh Park, located in the center of Rawalpindi, which is approximately eight miles south of Islamabad, Pakistan.

The attack took place after Ms. Bhutto departed from a political rally and occurred near the back gate of the park.  As Bhutto was ushered off stage and entered her armored SUV, a member of the security detachment opened the sunroof and Bhutto stood, exposing her entire upper body through the sunroof.  Based on a review of the video footage, there does not appear to have been controlled access screening for weapons or explosives at the event itself.  In addition, after Bhutto left the stage for her vehicle, there was no access control for those coming to greet her or for anyone wishing to approach her vehicle.

Bhutto survived an earlier suicide attack on October 19, 2007, attempted upon her arrival in Karachi.  The death toll on that attack was over 100 people.  The Pakistani government deployed over 20,000 military forces to protect Bhutto between the airport and her home.  Nevertheless, the streets were jammed, vehicles blocked her convoy, and she was an easy target in that attack.  Eyewitnesses reported that anyone could come up to her vehicle.

In general, Bhutto was a high probability target because she was outspoken against extremism and terrorism, she promoted democracy in a country greatly influenced by anti-democratic adherents to extremist forms of Islam. she was a woman in a powerful position in a Muslim country, and she had close ties to the United States.  Any legitimate security expert would have considered her personal protection an extremely high risk detail.

The Assassination

The reports coming in suggest that gunfire was directed at Bhutto while she was in the vehicle and exposed through the sunroof.  A review of the video confirms that a person with a handgun began firing at her.  Moments later, a single suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest.  Initial reports state that Bhutto was shot in neck and chest at close range, and then the devise detonated.  Some reports indicate she died from the shrapnel from the explosive, and others state that the fatal blow came when hit her head on a part of the sunroof, causing a fracture to her skull.  At 6:16 p.m., Bhutto was declared dead at a hospital in Rawalpindi.

Two Pakistani men in their mid 20s have been identified as executing the attack.  They both may have been affiliated with Al Qaida, whose organization is taking credit for the attack.

As an Executive Protection & Threat Management company that specializes in high risk protection details, we examine what went wrong, based on available information, in order to train our executive protection agents to prevent similar attacks on our high risk clients.  Lessons learned from this attack.

Analysis of Failures

What follows is The World Protection Group’s analysis of what went wrong:

1  It has been reported that Bhutto had only one personal protection agent, an unarmed woman.  No one agent can protect a principle in a high risk environment.

2  Police and military were at the event but did a poor job of screening for explosives and weapons.  In addition, they likely have very little or no training in personal protection.

3  Access control was poor or non-existent.  Close access to such a high risk target must be restricted to close associates and security personnel only.

4  It is extremely important that security personnel have complete control over what the principal’s movements will be and are directed and rehearsed by the executive protection agents.

5  A close working relationship should be established between the protective detail and any competent source of protective intelligence.  In a high-risk detail such as this, U.S. and pakistani intelligence assets should be tapped whenever possible.

6  One or more EMT/Tactical Medical Specialists should be assigned to detail of this profile and magnitude. Accordingly, emergency medical equipment should be immediately available for the provision of emergency care in the event of an attack.

7  All executive protection agents that work close protection on a high-risk detail must have specialized training in high-risk environments.

8  A clear path from the stage to the vehicle, and a clear path of departure from the event must be maintained.  Our analysis indicates that Bhutto’s vehicle was boxed in.  Arrivals and departures must be done with swiftness and controlled so that the principal does not get caught in the kill zone.

The World Protection Group, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based global provider of executive protection & threat management, uniformed protective service, security consulting and asset protection.  To learn more about WPG, please contact Craig Chamberlain, V.P. of Sales & Marketing at +1-310-550-4319 or by email at cchamberlain@theworldprotectiongroup.com.