- Title: PAKISTAN: Gunmen kill Saudi diplomat in Karachi
- Date: 17th May 2011
- Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (MAY 16, 2011) (REUTERS) POLICE OFFICIALS STANDING ON PAVEMENT BESIDE CRIME SCENE CRIME SCENE POLICE AND PARAMILITARY CARS AT CRIME SCENE PARAMILITARY SOLDIERS STANDING GUARD NEAR CRIME SCENE SAUDI CONSUL (IN BLUE SHIRT) TALKING TO INVESTIGATORS POLICE STATION BUILDING ATTACKED CAR PARKED AND COVERED AT POLICE STATION POLICE OFFICIALS ARRIVING PO
- Embargoed: 1st June 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan, Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA53MWOY9JCG65L4COIS0MG7PKN
- Story Text: Gunmen attack Saudi consulate car, killing a Saudi diplomat in Karachi.
Gunmen on motorcycles attacked a car belonging to the Saudi Arabian consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi on Monday (May 16) killing a Saudi diplomat, police and the Saudi ambassador said.
The shooting occurred days after unidentified attackers threw two hand grenades at the Saudi consulate in the city, Pakistan's commercial hub. No one was hurt in that attack.
The ambassador, Abdul Aziz al-Ghadeer condemned the attack but did not give details on the rank of the diplomat who was killed.
It's too early to determine who was behind the attack, the ambassador said, but he suggested "terrorists", a reference to Muslim militant groups such as al Qaeda, carried it out.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long been close allies.
Al Qaeda is violently opposed to the Saudi government and has vowed revenge for the killing of its leader, Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, by U.S. special forces in Pakistan on May 2.
Saudi Arabia is the world biggest oil exporter and any signs that it's security is threatened could move global oil prices.
Four people riding motorcycles opened fire on the Saudi diplomat's car, a Karachi police official said.
Militants swearing allegiance to al Qaeda attacked Western targets, government sites and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, one of Washington's most strategic allies, between 2003 and 2006.
The operations included suicide bombings at Western housing compounds, the Saudi Interior Ministry headquarters in the capital Riyadh and petrochemicals companies.
In 2006, there was an attempt to storm the world's biggest oil processing plant in the kingdom.
Pakistan's commitment to fighting militancy was questioned after it was discovered that bin Laden was living in a garrison town close to the capital -- by some accounts for five years -- before his death. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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