Pakistani paramilitary troops and security agency officers surround the vehicle containing explosives

Additional reporting by Asif Farooqi, IOL correspondent

ISLAMABAD, March 15 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Pakistani security agencies thwarted what they said could have been a new devastation in the restive port city of Karachi when they dismantled huge explosive packed in a car parked outside the U.S. consulate early Monday, March 15.

A bomb disposal squad of Karachi police neutralized a Suzuki van outside the U.S. consulate on a busy Karachi street packed with 750 kilograms of liquid explosives, a timer device and a sophisticated detonator.

The attempt against a U.S. mission comes two days before secretary of state Colin Powell's visit to the country and almost two years after a car bomb attack on the consulate in almost the same pattern,

Four unidentified men left the van on the road outside the U.S. consulate which was immediately noticed by members of police contingent on permanent deployment in front of the consulate, chief of Pakistan Rangers in Karachi, Major General Javed Zia told reporters in the southern port city of Karachi.

He said the quantity and quality of the explosive suggested that it could have caused massive damage if exploded as per the planning.  

He said in view of the position of the car it was almost certain that target was the U.S. consulate.

A spokesman for the United States embassy in Islamabad confirmed the car was found but refused to go into details.

"All I know is that a car was found and with the collaboration of Karachi police it was removed," spokesman Andrew Steinfeld told AFP.

He said the security review on all U.S. installations in Pakistan took place following the attempted attack.

The Karachi consulate was immediately closed down and public services at other places were said to have been suspended.

Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary troops cordoned off the consulate building in Karachi and checked the area for additional explosives.

In June 2002, a suicide bomber blew up a truck in front of the U.S. Consulate, killing 14 Pakistanis.

It was the second deadly car bomb attack in Karachi that year, coming one month after 11 French naval engineers and three Pakistanis were blown up outside the city's Sheraton Hotel.

Also, in February 2003, a gunman opened fire on a police post guarding the consulate, killing two policemen and injuring at least five other people. He was arrested with a note in his pocket saying it was “his duty” as a Muslim to kill the protectors of “infidel Americans”.

Investigators found that the Suzuki van used in Monday's thwarted attack was stolen from a residential area of Karachi late Sunday.

Four men, who allegedly belonged to the outlawed militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen Al-Almi, were convicted last year for the June 2002 bombing. Two were sentenced to death by hanging, and two to life in prison.