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| July 22, 2002 | Monday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11,1423 |
Al Qaeda planning to attack embassies
ISLAMABAD, July 21: The government has received intelligence reports that 24 Al Qaeda members and about 12 other terrorists have entered Pakistan in the last couple of days and are planning to target some embassies of European countries and Indian High Commission, a source said.
He said the terrorists first came to Dubai from India on Indian passports. Later, they went to a neighbouring country, from where they entered Pakistan.
The source said, according to information, the Al Qaeda members would scatter in different cities to carry out their terrorist activities. They are reportedly planning to target Indian Consulate building in Karachi some time in August, besides hitting some European embassies in the federal capital, he said.
The source said the German embassy was also on their hit- list. There are fears that terrorists may choose August 15, the independence day of India, for attack on Indian High Commission in Pakistan, he said.
In the light of intelligence information, the government has put provincial governments, chief commissioner of Islamabad and local law enforcement agencies on security alert, the source said.
He said all law enforcement agencies had been directed to take necessary action in this regard and make adequate security arrangements.
In another move, the interior ministry has directed the authorities concerned not to extend the stay of Indian nationals who were in the country on visit visas, the source said.
Furthermore, the home department has been directed to ensure the return of Indian visitors to their country within 10 days, while those who are living illegally must be arrested.
The Austrian embassy in Islamabad has also received a threat from terrorists and asked the Pakistani authorities to ensure its security, the official sources said.
They said in the wake of the threat to the Austrian embassy, the Islamabad police have been directed to strengthen the embassy’s security.
The United States embassy, and the UK and Canadian high commissions in the capital have also received threats from the terrorists in the last few weeks.
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