4 dead, dozens wounded in Karachi blast
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-02 15:04

KARACHI, Pakistan - A car bomb exploded Thursday outside the U.S. Consulate and a luxury hotel in Pakistan's biggest city, killing four people 锟斤拷 including an American diplomat 锟斤拷 just days ahead of a visit to Pakistan by President Bush, police said.

The blast ripped through the parking lot of the Marriott Hotel, about 20 yards from the consulate gate, shattering windows at the consulate and on all 10 floors of the hotel. Ten cars were destroyed, sending clouds of thick black smoke over the scene.

Speaking in neighboring India, Bush said a U.S. foreign service officer was killed.

"We have lost at least one U.S. citizen in the bombing, a foreign service officer, and I send our country's deepest condolences to that person's loved ones and family," Bush said, declining to provide further details

Pakistani firemen trying to put off fire caused by bomb blasts outside the US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, March 2, 2006 in Karachi, Pakistan. Two car bombs exploded outside the US consulate and a luxury hotel in Karachi, killing three people and wounded 34 others, two days ahead of a visit to Pakistan by the US president, police said. [AP]

Two blasts ripped through vehicles in the parking lot of the Marriott Hotel, about 20 yards from the consulate gate, shattering windows at both locations and other nearby buildings. Ten cars were destroyed, casting clouds of thick black smoke over the scene.

Police initially said two car bombs had gone off, but provincial police chief Jahangir Mirza said a single bomb by a suspected suicide attacker may have triggered a second explosion when a burning car's fuel tank caught fire.

"There is a possibility that this could be a suicide attack but we are still investigating," Mirza said.

Shabbir Qaimkhani, the provincial health minister, said four people were killed, including a woman who died of her injuries in the hospital, and 49 others were wounded.