Deadly Car Bomb Strikes Pakistan's Commerical Capital, Karachi
VOA News 11 November 2010
Officials in Pakistan say a massive car bomb has ripped through a police building in the country's largest city, Karachi, killing at least 15 people.
Officials say Thursday suspected militants first opened fire before detonating a bomb which leveled the headquarters of the office of the Crime Investigation Department or CID.
The force of the blast created a large carter and damaged several neighboring buildings and vehicles in the high security area of Karachi, which is also home to the U.S. consulate.
At least 90 people were wounded in the attack.
Television footage showed rescue workers pulling victims from the debris.
The CID building was used as a detention facility for criminals.
In the country's north, Pakistani intelligence officials say a U.S. missile strike Thursday killed at least six suspected militants as they returned home to Pakistan from neighboring Afghanistan.
Officials say a drone fired several missiles at a house in the North Waziristan tribal region, just a few kilometers from the Afghan border.
The United States has increased its use of missiles launched from unmanned aircraft against Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area. There have been at least 40 of the strikes in that region since September.
The U.S. government does not publicly acknowledge the attacks, which are criticized by Pakistani officials as a violation of their country's sovereignty.
Separately, Pakistani officials say authorities briefly detained an American man at an airport in the eastern city of Lahore after discovering 30 rounds of ammunition in his luggage.
Police say the 70-year-old man told authorities he was a retired teacher at a missionary school in Lahore. The American was reported to be on his way to Dubai. He was released on bail.
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said Thursday it is looking into the case.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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