Karachi: Pakistan investigators on Friday said they have arrested six people who masterminded a blast on the eve of US President George Bush's visit to Islamabad in March.
The six are said to be linked to al-Qaeda. The suicide bomb blast in the US consulate in Karachi killed five people including an American diplomat, David Fyfe.
The investigators also identified the suicide bomber who blew himself up on March 2, killing Fyfe and four others and injuring over 54 people.
The bomber is said to be one Mohammad Tahir belonging to a banned militant outfit linked to al-Qaeda, official sources said.
"The six suspects have been arrested from Karachi and Punjab (province). Those arrested from Punjab will be brought to Karachi for further investigations," the sources said.
A high level meeting is taking place in Islamabad in the aftermath of these arrests and identification of the bomber, they added.
Tahir rammed an explosive-laden car into the Fyfe's vehicle yards away from the US consulate-general's office, killing the American diplomat less than two days before Bush was to travel to Pakistan. The US President was in India at the time of the attack.
The blast took place in a narrow lane between the five-star Marriott Hotel and a naval establishment in one of the high security areas in the city.
The explosive-laden car had been parked outside the naval establishment. When the convoy carrying the US official appeared, the bomber rammed his vehicle into the bullet-proof car.
The five-door vehicle flew up into the air before landing across a concrete barrier on the pavement of Marriot.
Only its chassis and tyres were identifiable. Remains of the bomber's car landed several feet into the naval establishment.
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