KARACHI, March 2: Thursday’s blast near the US Consulate claimed the life of fifth US national in the city since the Union Taxes ambush in which four American auditors were killed with their Pakistani driver.

However, it was first such terrorist attack in which a diplomat lost his life in the terrorist strike.

Earlier, on June 14, 2002, US Consulate was targeted by terrorist from the front side of the Abdullah Harood Road, claiming 12 lives.

Only the Consulate wall was damaged in the 2002 blast, but none of the foreigners were hurt.

On November 11, 1997, four US nationals and their Pakistani driver were gunned down, a few meters away from the present location.

On the November 11, four Americans auditors of the Union Texas Petroleum were heading to the company’s house in Bahria Complex from a five-star hotel. They were gunned down by unknown armed assailants as their car descended from the Love Lane Bridge.

Following the incident, the company initially evacuated all its 30 personnel from the Pakistan. But later the company relocated its offices in Islamabad.

On May 8, 2002, 11 Frenchmen and five Pakistanis were killed when a car laden with explosive dashed into a bus of Pakistan Navy.

The bus was carrying French technicians to Karachi Shipyard where they were engaged in the development of Augosta Submarine.