KARACHI: Investigators suspect the Islamic militant group Jundullah (AllahÂ’s Brigade) carried out the suicide car bombing that killed a US diplomat and three other people in Karachi, an official said on Saturday. No group claimed responsibility for the bombing Thursday that some officials believed was timed for the eve of US President George W BushÂ’s visit to Pakistan. Investigators believe the bombingÂ’s sophisticated planning seemed to point to Jundullah, also blamed for attacks on other US and Christian targets, said a police investigator. Guards tried to stop the bomberÂ’s car at a checkpoint, but the attacker sped off and rammed into the diplomatÂ’s SUV, killing the envoy and his Pakistani driver. A guard and woman nearby also died, and 52 people were injured. The official said that the attackÂ’s planners were sophisticated enough to know that they couldnÂ’t use an old car, commonly used in such bombings, because it would arouse suspicion in the upscale neighborhood, the official said. The bomber was driving a 2004 Toyota Corolla, reported stolen in May 2005 in Lahore, about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Karachi, the official said.
Jundullah was accused in a 2004 attack on an army general, who survived, in Karachi, and 11 members of the group were sentenced to death last month in the assassination attempt.