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U.S. Vehicle Rammed by Suicide Bomber in Pakistan U.S. Vehicle Rammed by Suicide Bomber in Pakistan
(about 5 hours later)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into an SUV belonging to the United States Consulate in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Monday morning in one of the most brazen attacks against Americans in the country in recent years, Pakistani and American officials said. PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a sport-utility vehicle belonging to the United States Consulate in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Monday morning, Pakistani and American officials said, in one of the most brazen attacks against Americans in the country in recent years.
There were conflicting reports about the number and nationality of the casualties. Pakistani officials said at least two people were killed and at least 13 were injured. The United States Embassy in Islamabad confirmed the attack but denied that any American was killed in the assault. A statement by the embassy stated that “no U.S. Consulate personnel were killed.” There were conflicting reports about the number and nationality of the casualties. Pakistani officials said that at least two people were killed and at least 13 were injured, including two police officers. The United States Embassy in Islamabad confirmed the attack and said in a statement that two Americans and two Pakistani employees of the consulate were injured. It denied early reports that an American had been killed.
“Two U.S. personnel and two Pakistani staff were injured,” the embassy said. A senior Pakistani government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that an American backup vehicle immediately retrieved the four who were wounded inside the S.U.V. and took them to the consulate. The official said two Pakistanis were killed outside the vehicle.
A senior Pakistani government official said that two Pakistanis were killed but denied an earlier statement by local officials that Americans had also died. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which took place in Peshawar, the provincial capital of the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, in a residential area called University Town. It is home to the United States consulate general in Peshawar and American diplomats, as well as workers with international aid agencies, some of which have offices there.
“The Americans were traveling in an armored SUV and survived the attack,” the Pakistani official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said an American backup vehicle immediately retrieved the wounded Americans and took them to the consulate. Immediate suspicion pointed toward the Taliban, who have repeatedly vowed to attack Americans in the country.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in the University Town neighborhood of Peshawar, the provincial capital of restive Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa province. Immediate suspicion pointed toward the Taliban, who have repeatedly vowed to attack Americans in the country. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, visiting Indonesia, condemned the attack. “We pray for the safe recovery of American and Pakistani victims, and once again we deplore the cowardly act of suicide bombing and terrorism that has affected so many people around the world.”
The American vehicle had left the heavily guarded and fortified consulate building and was passing a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees guesthouse on Abdara Road when it was rammed by a vehicle containing at least 200 pounds of explosives, according to police officials. The State Department’s spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, who is traveling with Mrs. Clinton, said the extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known. She said she did not have complete information on casualties outside the vehicle.
A thick plume of smoke rose over the site after the explosion and could be seen a mile away. The blast left a crater five feet wide in the road. “We stand ready to work with Pakistani authorities on a full investigation, so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice,” Ms. Nuland said.
Firefighters evacuated the injured and doused the burning SUV, which carried a diplomatic corps registration number. A partially burned American passport was recovered from the vehicle. The wounded including two police officers and 11 passers-by. The American vehicle had left the heavily guarded and fortified consulate building and was passing a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees guesthouse on Abdara Road when it was rammed by a vehicle containing at least 200 pounds of explosives, police officials said. A thick plume of smoke rose over the site after the explosion that could be seen a mile away. The blast left a five-foot-wide crater in the road.
The attack took place close to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in University Town, a residential area that also includes the residence of the United States consulate general in Peshawar and several houses of American diplomats and foreign staff and the offices and residences of some international aid agencies. Firefighters evacuated the injured and doused the burning S.U.V., which carried a diplomatic-corps registration number. A partially burned American passport was recovered from the vehicle.
Police officials quoting witnesses said that at least one of those in the American vehicle appeared to be dead. Police officials said that they had issued warnings of a possible terrorist attack in the city and had stepped up surveillance. The consulate was closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
Police officials said that they had issued prior warnings of a possible terrorist attack and had stepped up surveillance. The consulate was closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
American diplomatic personnel in Peshawar have been the target of previous attacks, including one on the heavily guarded consulate in April 2010.American diplomatic personnel in Peshawar have been the target of previous attacks, including one on the heavily guarded consulate in April 2010.
“We stand ready to work with Pakistani authorities on a full investigation so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice,” the embassy said.

Ismail Khan reported from Peshawar and Salman Masood from Islamabad, Pakistan. Steven Lee Myers contributed reporting from Jakarta.

Salman Masood reported from Islamabad, Pakistan.