High alert in Islamabad after car bomb terror plot foiled

Islamabad: Police foiled a major terror plot, seizing three explosives-packed vehicles and arresting six people - including three would-be suicide bombers - near Islamabad, officials said on Friday.

The discovery of the massive bombs in the army garrison city of Rawalpindi, which adjoins the capital, comes just days after a deadly suicide car bomb attack outside the Danish embassy in Islamabad.

Security forces placed the two cities on red alert following the discovery of the three cars rigged to a total of 500 kilogrammes of high explosives.

Security was tightest along Islamabad's Constitution Avenue, the duel carriageway leading to the presidency building, National Assembly, Supreme Court, various ministries and the diplomatic enclave where many embassies are located.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik was quoted by local television stations as saying that six "terrorists", including three suicide bombers, had been arrested and three explosives-laden vehicles seized.

"It was a major terrorist plot aimed at causing death and destruction in the twin cities," a senior security official said on condition of anonymity.

Embassy relocation

"Security agencies got a tip-off that some explosives-laden vehicles would enter the twin cities and police tightened security on the road and launched checking of vehicles," the official said.

Foreign envoys met on Thursday with Malik and he told them that police in the capital were being reinforced with paramilitary troops.

He assured those ambassadors whose embassies were located outside the diplomatic enclave that he would take up issues regarding the provision of land for them to relocate.

The Netherlands mission has moved to a hotel with tight security, having come under a similar threat to the Danes because of a film made by a Dutch anti-immigration politician that is deemed offensive to Muslims.

"On Thursday, they impounded three vehicles each fitted with 100 to 150 kilogrammes of explosives... The vehicles were meant to cause terrorist attacks in the twin cities," he said.

Al Qaida had claimed in purported internet statements on Wednesday to have carried out the attack on the Danish mission in revenge for the publication in Danish newspapers of cartoons insulting The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Meanwhile, Sweden tightened security around its embassy on Friday after new warnings in the wake of a suicide car bomb attack outside the Danish embassy, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

"The security around the embassy in Islamabad was tightened on Monday after the bomb attack (at the Danish embassy)", said Teo Zetterman, the ministry spokesman.

"Today there has been an upgrading of the security around the embassy and the residency of the ambassador due to the information about ... vehicles transporting explosives."

"We have arrested suspected suicide bombers," said Rao Iqbal, Rawalpindi police chief.

He said police had also seized three vehicles laden with a large quantity of explosives from Dhok Kala Khan, one of the city's congested neighbourhoods.