The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on 20 September 2008, when a dump truck filled with explosives was detonated in front of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and wounding 266. Most of the dead were Pakistani civilians, but two American military personnel, a US State Department employee, and a Danish intelligence agent were also killed. The bombing targeted an official government dinner which was originally scheduled to have been held at the hotel, but they decided to eat at the Prime Minister's house at the last minute. The Taliban denied responsibility due to their opposition to killing so many locals; al-Qaeda operatives Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam and Ahmed Salim Swedan were believed to have masterminded the hotel bombing, while HUJI was also suspected of perpetrating the bombing.