Pakistan police say bombing plot in capital foiled

Islamabad: Pakistani authorities said the police foiled a plot to bomb a mosque and government buildings in the country's capital on Friday, arresting two would-be suicide attackers.

One of the plotters was wearing an explosives vest and was on his way to attack an Islamabad mosque during Friday prayers when officers seized him, police official Bin Yamin said.

Questioning of the suspects indicated they were planning to hit government buildings in the capital, possibly even Parliament, Yamin added.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed the arrests, saying authorities learned about a possible suicide bombing at Parliament or nearby building on Thursday night, after which they quickly increased security in the area.

"We took all the required measure without creating a panic," Malik told the state-run Pakistan Television.

Yamin said the would-be bombers are linked to the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan, where the Pakistani Army has been fighting the militants since last year.

Pakistani authorities have lately been struggling as Islamist extremists step up bombings of government buildings and mosques across the country.