Car Bomb Hits Danish Mission In Islamabad

Police officers examine the site where a building adjacent to the Danish Embassy was destroyed by a bomb explosion in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, June 2, 2008. A huge car bomb exploded outside the embassy in the Pakistani capital on Monday, killing at least four people and wounding dozens more, officials and witnesses said. (B.k.bangash - AP)

The bombing, in the heart of a residential section of Islamabad heavily populated by diplomats and foreigners, sent shock waves through the city's tightly knit expatriate community. Several embassies had already put their staffs on high alert in March after a Turkish woman was killed and several other people were injured in a bombing at an Italian restaurant here that was popular with foreigners.

Salman Bashir, Pakistan's foreign secretary, arrived at the embassy about two hours after the blast. Glass and charred debris crunching underfoot as he walked to the site, Bashir vehemently condemned the bombing and promised that the Pakistani government would protect foreign missions in the country.

"I think that the Pakistani nation feels very ashamed today of incidents like this," Bashir said. "They have damaged the image of our country."

Kamal Shah, Pakistan's interior secretary, said all foreign embassies will be moved to the heavily guarded diplomatic enclave. He said a multi-agency task force that includes the Islamabad police is investigating whether the blast was caused by a suicide attack, remote-controlled bomb or timed explosive device.

"It is not possible to say who was involved at this stage or whether there was one or two or more attackers," Shah said.

A Pakistani official familiar with details of the investigation said a white Toyota Corolla was used to execute the bombing. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said the car bore fake diplomatic license plates.

Ashghar Gardezi, chief of police in Islamabad, said that "all indications suggest a suicide bombing," but the body of the attacker had not yet been recovered.

Special correspondent Shaiq Hussain contributed to this report.