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'German militants' killed in Pakistan drone attack
At least eight al-Qaeda militants - some of whom were German nationals - have been killed in a drone attack in Pakistan, officials have told the BBC.
The suspected US drone fired two missiles at a house owned by a local tribesman in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan, the officials said.
At least three of the dead were said to be German - of Arab or Turkish origin.
In recent weeks, security sources have spoken of a Pakistan-linked al-Qaeda plot to attack European cities.
US media outlets reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had ramped up missile strikes from its unmanned drones, targeting militants who are believed to have inspired the alleged plot.
In Pakistan, the US has carried out 26 drone strikes in the past month - the highest monthly total for the past six years.
The suspected plot has led several countries to issue travel warnings to their citizens, saying they should be vigilant while travelling in Europe.
Although there has been no official comment on the latest drone strike, there have been lingering concerns over German nationals in the tribal areas.
German media has been reporting since 2009 about the disappearance of several Islamist militants from their homes in Hamburg, thought to have headed to Pakistan's tribal areas.
The arrest of one of those militants earlier in Afghanistan earlier this year is said to have yielded useful intelligence to German investigators.
Militant shelter
US officials have not commented on Monday's drone attack, and rarely speak about the targets of their raids.
Pakistani officials said the house hit in the latest attack was located in a village 3km (1.9 miles) from the main town of Mir Ali.
The militants were apparently visiting tribal leader Sher Mullah, who has close links to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the local Taliban chief.
The house was completely destroyed in the attack and, in addition to those killed, several people were injured. The bodies were later taken away by the Taliban.
Local tribesmen described the dead men as Arabs, but said they did not know their identities.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Karachi, says local people use the word Arab to describe anyone from the Middle East or even as far west as Turkey.
Officials told the AFP news agency that five of the dead militants were German citizens of Turkish origin, and the others were local people.
But other officials told the BBC that three were from Germany, and described all eight as Middle Eastern.
Militants of Western origin are known to take shelter in the area, and are greatly prized by al-Qaeda as they provide the ability to hit Western targets, our correspondent says.
Monday's attack continues the unrelenting bombardment of the Waziristan tribal region.
The CIA began their drone attacks several years ago, as they believed the Pakistani military was doing little to combat the threat from militants in the region.
Western intelligence officials believe the missiles have severely restricted the ability of al-Qaeda to carry out major attacks.
More than 150 people have died in drone strikes this year, including both militants and civilians.
Al-Qaeda's operations chief is believed to have been one of those killed in recent drone strikes.
The attacks have inflamed public opinion in Pakistan, which last week was further aggravated by border violations by Nato helicopters from Afghanistan.
Pakistan's government has subsequently clamped down on the supply of goods and fuel from Pakistan to Nato troops based in Afghanistan.
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Posted on: 05 Oct 2010
At least eight al-Qaeda militants - some of whom were German nationals - have been killed in a drone attack in Pakistan, officials have told the BBC.
The suspected US drone fired two missiles at a house owned by a local tribesman in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan, the officials said.
At least three of the dead were said to be German - of Arab or Turkish origin.
In recent weeks, security sources have spoken of a Pakistan-linked al-Qaeda plot to attack European cities.
US media outlets reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had ramped up missile strikes from its unmanned drones, targeting militants who are believed to have inspired the alleged plot.
In Pakistan, the US has carried out 26 drone strikes in the past month - the highest monthly total for the past six years.
The suspected plot has led several countries to issue travel warnings to their citizens, saying they should be vigilant while travelling in Europe.
Although there has been no official comment on the latest drone strike, there have been lingering concerns over German nationals in the tribal areas.
German media has been reporting since 2009 about the disappearance of several Islamist militants from their homes in Hamburg, thought to have headed to Pakistan's tribal areas.
The arrest of one of those militants earlier in Afghanistan earlier this year is said to have yielded useful intelligence to German investigators.
Militant shelter
US officials have not commented on Monday's drone attack, and rarely speak about the targets of their raids.
Pakistani officials said the house hit in the latest attack was located in a village 3km (1.9 miles) from the main town of Mir Ali.
The militants were apparently visiting tribal leader Sher Mullah, who has close links to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the local Taliban chief.
The house was completely destroyed in the attack and, in addition to those killed, several people were injured. The bodies were later taken away by the Taliban.
Local tribesmen described the dead men as Arabs, but said they did not know their identities.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Karachi, says local people use the word Arab to describe anyone from the Middle East or even as far west as Turkey.
Officials told the AFP news agency that five of the dead militants were German citizens of Turkish origin, and the others were local people.
But other officials told the BBC that three were from Germany, and described all eight as Middle Eastern.
Militants of Western origin are known to take shelter in the area, and are greatly prized by al-Qaeda as they provide the ability to hit Western targets, our correspondent says.
Monday's attack continues the unrelenting bombardment of the Waziristan tribal region.
The CIA began their drone attacks several years ago, as they believed the Pakistani military was doing little to combat the threat from militants in the region.
Western intelligence officials believe the missiles have severely restricted the ability of al-Qaeda to carry out major attacks.
More than 150 people have died in drone strikes this year, including both militants and civilians.
Al-Qaeda's operations chief is believed to have been one of those killed in recent drone strikes.
The attacks have inflamed public opinion in Pakistan, which last week was further aggravated by border violations by Nato helicopters from Afghanistan.
Pakistan's government has subsequently clamped down on the supply of goods and fuel from Pakistan to Nato troops based in Afghanistan.
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