In the first targeted attack on the sizable U.S. diplomatic community in Pakistan, the Taliban on Friday attacked a consulate vehicle in Peshawar killing one person and injuring a dozen, including two American employees of the mission.
The suicide bomber rammed one of the two bullet-proof vehicles of the mission as they moved in a convoy from the upmarket University Town neighbourhood to the consulate.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. In a telephone call to the Associated Press, a Taliban spokesman pointed out they had warned that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's death would be avenged and more such attacks would be targeted against the U.S. and NATO.
According to the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, the consulate vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. “The United States is committed to working with Pakistan in our joint effort to combat terrorism and to bring to justice those behind this attack.''
This is the second suicide attack by the Taliban in a week to avenge bin Laden's killing. Last Friday, the Taliban had struck at a training facility of the Frontier Constabulary in Charsadda again in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa killing 90 persons.
