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FBI Presence in bombed Pak Diner adds to Murk
Reuters
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 03 - 2008

Pakistani police carried out a dragnet following a bomb attack on Saturday night that killed a Turkish woman and wounded four FBI agents among several other people dining at an Italian restaurant in Islamabad.
But police said on Monday they have so far been unable to link any those picked up to the attack on the Luna Caprese restaurant, a favorite hangout for foreigners as it is one of the few places in the Pakistani capital where alcohol is served.
The investigation was being carried out jointly with intelligence agencies, and a forensics report was awaited to ascertain whether the bomb was planted in the garden dining area or thrown over a wall.
Investigating officer Ashraf Shah told Reuters that 3-4 kg of explosives were used in the attack. The blast left a crater about a meter wide, and police were immediately able to rule out a suicide attack, which has become militants favored mode of attack since mid-2007.
“We have made some detentions focusing on suspicious people, and people unable to account for their presence in Islamabad... But, there has not been any arrest in the case,” Senior Superintendent Kaleem Imam said of the results of the dragnet.
The FBI confirmed on Sunday that four of five Americans wounded in the attack were FBI agents. “Four FBI personnel were slightly injured in the bombing attack in Pakistan. The FBI is providing the necessary assistance to our employees and their families,” FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said.
Kolko provided no further details. The US State Department and embassy in Islamabad had no additional comment.
ABC News identified one of the wounded agents as Ray Biteski, the embassy's FBI attach?. It is unknown whether the attack had targeted the restaurant because of the presence of the Americans, or simply because it was a well-known haunt for expatriates, notably diplomats, journalists and aid agency officials.
While Pakistan has reeled from a wave of violence, the Al-Qaeda inspired militants had until now focused on Pakistani security forces and political leaders, while Westerners and other foreigners have been mostly spared. It was too early say if the attack was a one-off, or an attack on a specific target, or the start of a trend to pick out soft targets frequented by foreigners. __


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