The Hindu : 11 French nationals killed in Karachi suicide attack

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 09, 2002

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11 French nationals killed in Karachi suicide attack

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

Police and bomb disposal squad personnel examine the site of the bomb blast in Karachi on Wednesday. — AP

ISLAMABAD MAY 8. In yet another act of terror, the third in the current year, terrorists struck in the heart of Karachi when a suicide bomber blew up a mini bus killing 14 persons, including 11 French citizens, and injuring at least 30, 16 of them French. Many of the injured are in a critical condition.

Today's attack took place around 7.30 a.m. IST when the French technicians working for a multinational corporation were boarding the shuttle to proceed to the Karachi Naval Yard to work on the second submarine that Pakistan has bought from France.

According to police and eyewitness accounts relayed on the State-run PTV and other television networks, an explosive-laden car pulled up beside the shuttle parked outside the Sheraton Hotel and it blew up as the engineers and technicians were boarding the bus.

Such was the impact of the explosion that nine persons died on the spot. All buildings in the vicinity, including the hotel where the visiting New Zealand cricket team is staying, were affected. The blast left a large crater on the road and destroyed many vehicles. A police no one has claimed responsibility for the act, it is believed to be the handiwork of forces opposed to the Musharraf Government's decision to join the U.S.-led coalition in its war against the Al-Qaeda.

The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, who chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and heads of Intelligence agencies today, dubbed the attack an "act of terrorism aimed at weakening the defence of the country." Though the meeting did not rule out the possibility of a ``foreign hand from across the eastern borders from a country perpetually inimical to Pakistan,'' Gen. Musharraf was clear in his message to the international community that Islamabad was more inclined to look at the attack as a reaction to its decision of joining the U.S.-led global alliance against terror.

Speaking on PTV, Gen. Musharraf said the attack was an attempt to "destabilise Pakistan and weaken its defence capabilities... We feel this act of international terrorism has to be met with full force. My Government has the complete resolve of meeting this threat.''

The likely fall-out of the Karachi incident was evident from two developments during the day; the New Zealand cricket team decided to cut short its tour and return home and the Singapore Airlines announced that it is suspending its operations to Pakistan for an indefinite period.

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