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| Three suicide bombers arrested in Karachi | | | KARACHI, FEB 16
Three suicide bombers, having links with al-Qaeda and Taliban, were arrested in this Pakistani port city today following an encounter, foiling their plans to carry out "Iraq-style" attacks, mainly targeting senior officials.
The arrests came as security was put on high alert in Islamabad following intelligence reports that four suicide bombers may try to penetrate into the capital to stage attacks with the help of a local link.
The three men, Shahid, Farhan and Ghani, who belong to Qari Zafar group, were arrested after an encounter in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, one of the most populated areas of Karachi, Superintendent of Police (CID) Fayyaz Khan said.
Three jackets, used in carrying out suicide attacks, along with three bombs, two pistols, one Kalashnikov rifle and some grenades were recovered from their possession, Khan told reporters.
The men were arrested on a tip-off and their group is believed to be behind other terrorist attacks in the country since 2002, Khan said.
He said they had planned suicide bombings in Karachi and other cities.
"This time they were planning fresh attacks in some cities and we have recovered a list from them in which Iraqi style suicide target attacks have been planned on some senior officials," Khan said.
The official said the militants had "confessed to having links with al-Qaeda and the Taliban and have been operating out of the tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan".
The militants revealed that "there were eight or nine others belonging to their group who have received training in Wana in south Waziristan. We are conducting raids to also arrest them," Khan said.
In Islamabad, heavily-armed policemen were seen deployed in many areas, while security around important buildings, government offices, shopping centres were tightened, and hospitals alerted, police said.
The four suspects, identified as Noor Mohammad, Arungazaib, Sher Gul and Hashim, belong to a banned militant group and planned to enter Islamabad to carry out attacks, media reports quoted police officials as saying.
The four terrorists would enjoy the support of a local, Sher Mohammad, and stay with him. Intelligence and law-enforcement agencies had started checking hotels for the presence of any suspects, they said.
The foreign office has asked diplomats and foreigners to restrict their moments till further announcement, local daily Dawn reported.
Officials of the Indian High Commission here said no such information has been conveyed to them yet.
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