Two guards die as bombers target American consulate in Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, April 5, IRNA -- A group of suicide bombers attacked the American consulate in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar and killed at least two Pakistani security guards, police said.
Sources said that at least four personnel of an American security company, who were guarding the consulate, were also injured.
The bombers, who came in two cars near the consulate gate, fired two mortars at the consulate building and fired with automatic guns and then detonated their explosive-packed vehicles.
Witnesses said that the attacks damaged parts of the highly-guarded American consulate in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.
The U.S. embassy spokesman in Islamabad said that the American consulate came under attack but said he has received complete information so far.
Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Bilour said that a police man and security personnel from Frontier Constabulary were killed in the attack. He said bodies of four attacks were also found. He said two suicide jackets were also recovered.
The army spokesman said two other attackers were killed and cleared the whole area.
Doctors said that 11 injured were shifted to the city’s Lady Reading Hospital while several injured were taken to the army’s hospital. The journalists were not allowed to go into the army’s hospital.
No group claimed responsibility for the attacks. But Bilour blamed the militants for the attacks.
The American consulate, situated in the cantonment area, is heavily guarded by the Frontier Constabulary.
Prime Minister has strongly condemned the Peshawar blasts and ordered for providing special medical facilities to the injured, his office said.
TV footage showed a big blast near a roadside shop, sending thick smoke in the air. Witnesses said they saw a car exploded with a huge blast.
Officials said that the attackers first fired at an armoured vehicle car of the security forces at the gate of the consulate. Police and other guards opened fire on the bomber.
TV channels showed soldiers taking away an injured from the blast site.
An army helicopter was seen flying in the area to check if any attack was hiding in the area. The security forces made announcements, asking the people to stay way from the blast sites fearing more blasts.
The blasts smashed windows of houses and offices in the area, witnesses said.
The NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain blamed the militants for the attacks and said that they have faced defeat in Swat valley and Waziristan tribal region and now killing innocent people in cities.
End News / IRNA / News Code 1037356
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
