U.S. warns of suicide attacks in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 8 (UPI) -- U.S. officials in Pakistan warn the threat of suicide attacks against Americans and other Westerners has spread from tribal areas to major cities.

"The U.S. Mission has received non-specific information regarding terrorist attacks, possibly suicide attacks, against U.S. persons and interests, as well as places frequented by Westerners," said a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

The statement updates warnings earlier this year, which had focused on the danger of attacks in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province and its autonomous tribal areas. "The threat includes the major cities in Pakistan," read the statement, including Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, in addition to Peshawar, in the North-West Frontier Province.

The warning comes as Pakistan's intelligence agencies are cautioning that Islamic extremists based in the lawless tribal areas may attempt suicide attacks. Pakistani newspaper the Daily Times reported Tuesday an unidentified group was said to be planning attacks "to avenge the killing of its members by security forces."

The newspaper cited a letter from the Interior Ministry to provincial officials and police chiefs.

The letter stated that some extremists had already left the tribal areas to launch the attacks.