Taliban claim responsibility for American consulate attack
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, April 5 ,IRNA -- Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for suicide attacks on American consulate in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, which killed at least two security guards, police said.
A group of six suicide bombers attacked the heavily-guarded American consulate in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and damaged parts of the building, a provincial minister and the army spokesman said.
Sources said that at least four personnel of an American security company, guarding the consulate, were also injured.
A Taliban spokesman Muhammad Omar claimed responsibility of the consulate attack, Geo television reported.
Omar, in-charge of the media cell of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan told the television network that the militants carried out the attacks.
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.
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 attackers 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 exploding 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.
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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.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the series of explosions in Peshawar and observed that the explosions clearly manifest that these scrupulous elements neither have any belief in Islamic values nor any sympathy for the people of Pakistan..
“The miscreants are trying to spread panic among people in a desperate attempt to undermine the government’s operation against terrorists/militants in the bordering area” he added. He further said the terrorists are left with no option but to target innocent citizens.
The Prime Minister reiterated his firm resolve to eliminate terrorism and asked the people remain vigilant about such elements. He directed the law enforcement agencies to adopt strict measures to ensure security of the citizens and apprehend the culprits involved.
He also asked the provincial government to take care of the injured and the families of the victims.
The Prime Minister condoled with the families of the victims and injured.
End News / IRNA / News Code 1037362
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