London, Dec.28 : A photographer, who captured the suicide bomb explosion in Rawalpindi on Thursday,  today described his horror on seeing Benazir Bhutto being blasted to death less than 30 feet from him.

John Moore, 40, covering the rally for the Getty press agency, took the two stark images just seconds apart. In the first, Bhutto waves from her car. In the second, it is blasted apart by a suicide bomber.

According to The Mirror, the US-born photographer told how the crowd had begun to disperse after Bhutto appeared to leave the area before she reappeared to wave from the sunroof of her car.

He said: 'I was shocked she would do that because she was obviously aware of the extreme dangers of all of her public appearances.

'The way the crowd was standing, there was no clear way for the car to pass. So, it was moving very slowly with someone in front trying to clear a way.

'I had taken a couple of frames, but the crowd was pushing me as people at the back tried to get closer and those at the front tried to move out of the way of her convoy.

'I looked up to try and steady myself and get a proper footing, and as I did, I saw Bhutto ducked down in the car.

'Knowing what I know now, she must have seen the bomber in the crowd and known she was in danger. Right then, I heard at least two gunshots, I think it could have been three.

'Then the bomb went off. It seemed like it was right on top of me, right in my face. I pulled my hands up to try and shield my eyes. I couldn't move for a couple of seconds, it was just brightness and warmth and noise.

'Then the crowd pushed back, taking me with it. I kept the motordrive on the camera, trying to keep it directed at the explosion as I was pushed back.

'People were everywhere and everyone was panicked. It was obvious some of those at the front were lost, but the ambulances came and tried to save those who were further back.

'I was still trying to capture the scene and wanted to get closer but the crowds stopped me. There were hundreds, some pushing to get nearer and others desperate to get away.

'After a few minutes I looked back at what I'd taken and saw my pictures of Bhutto standing up in the car.

'The next frame was taken seconds later, maybe just two or three, and all you can see is the yellow of the bomb.' (ANI)