PAKISTAN: Pakistan said its arrest of up to 10 al-Qaeda suspects had foiled a plot to kill hundreds in bomb attacks on its cities, officials and a government minister said yesterday.
Two of Pakistan's ministers said late on Saturday that the security agencies had arrested up to 10 al-Qaeda suspects, including two Egyptians, suspected of planning suicide attacks against the government and the US embassy.
"There were two groups, which wanted to carry out terrorist attacks . . . we have arrested nine people and four more are wanted," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a news conference yesterday to give more details about the plot.
"They had dumped weapons here and we are locating the man who has come from Afghanistan to operate in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They wanted to create a bloody environment, in which they wanted to take lives of hundreds of people," Mr Ahmed said.
Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Saturday that "eight to 10" people were being held including two Egyptians who were suspected of being "key elements" of the group.
He said the plots bore the hallmarks of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and the men were found with "the latest gadgetry and equipment" and rockets, grenades and rifles.
The group was planning attacks on the residence of the president, the US embassy, and the national convention centre.