Suicide bomber wounds 2 Americans, others

Associated Press

PESHAWAR, Pakistan

A suicide car bomber rammed into a U.S. government vehicle in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Monday, killing two Pakistanis and wounding more than a dozen — including two Americans — in one of the worst attacks against the U.S. in Pakistan in recent years, officials said.

The bombing was a vivid reminder of the danger of operating in Pakistan, especially in the northwest where Taliban and al-Qaida militants are strongest. The U.S. has persisted because its work in Pakistan is seen as key to countering militants who threaten American interests in neighboring Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Insurgents have carried out scores of bombings in Peshawar in recent years, but attacks against American targets have been relatively rare because of extensive security measures by the U.S. government — ones that diplomats sometimes complain limit their effectiveness and ability to move around.

The U.S. said it would review its security procedures after Monday’s attack, which was condemned by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The armored SUV from the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar was attacked as it traveled through a heavily guarded area of the city that hosts various international organizations, including the United Nations. It was unclear how the bomber penetrated the area and knew which vehicle to attack.

The car driven by the bomber was packed with 240 pounds of explosives, police said.