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Published 11 May, 2011 10:04pm

Grenades hurled at Saudi consulate in Karachi

KARACHI, May 11: Two men on a motorcycle hurled two hand-grenades on the Saudi Consulate here on Wednesday, causing low-intensity explosions.

The assailants managed to run away as security personnel deployed at the mission watched helplessly.

The explosions did not cause any causality, but damaged some windowpanes of a mosque inside the consulate.

This was the third such attack in the city this month.

Police said the two men wearing helmets stopped near the gate of the consulate in Khyaban-i-Hafiz, lobbed two HE-36 type grenades and sped away. Dawn

DIG South Iqbal Mehmood told that three policemen belonging to the Foreigners Security Cell who were on duty at the consulate at the time of incident were suspended and detained for their failure to act against the assailants.

There is always a sizable security presence at the intersection of Khyaban-i-Hafiz and Khyaban-i-Shamsheer near the consulate and Rangers have security posts in the area.

There is also a Frontier Constabulary post, besides private security guards hired by the consulate.

But none of the security personnel acted against the assailants or tried to give them a chase, a senior police official observed.

He said a private security guard was in a position to do something, but he stood motionless.

The guard, however, gave a description of the attackers, he added.

Security at the consulate and other foreign missions was beefed up after the incident.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah condemned the attack and expressed relief that there was no loss of life and property.

He ordered the IG and CCPO to ensure security of all foreign missions in the city.

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