Karachi, July 08: Pakistani paramilitary forces raided houses in this southern city today and arrested three men suspected in recent deadly bombings at the us consulate and a hotel in which 11 French engineers were killed, officials said. Authorities seized Kalashnikov automatic rifles, pistols and ammunition in the raids in southern districts of the city, officials said on condition of anonymity. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the three were members of the outlawed Islamic extremist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which is believed to have links to al Queda. The paramilitary rangers called a news conference for later today, and promised to provide more details.
Officials said the trio arrested today were suspected in the June 14 car bombing outside the US consulate in Karachi that killed at least 12 Pakistanis and injured 50, and the may 8 suicide bombing outside the Sheraton hotel in Karachi, which killed the 11 Frenchmen and three other people, including the bomber.
Pakistani officials working with the FBI has detained dozens of militant suspects in Karachi the past few weeks, including many Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members, hoping to shake loose clues to the bombings. No charges have been laid and it was not immediately clear whether those arrested today had been charged.

Authorities are also searching for possible links between the bombings and the kidnap-slaying of wall street journal reporter Daniel Pearl earlier this year in Karachi. Four men are on trial for murdering Pearl.

Bureau Report