Police arrest suspects in Karachi bombings

Officials label investigation 'great success'

Twelve people were killed in the car bombing of the U.S. Consulate in Karachi on June 14

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Security forces in Pakistan say they have arrested three suspects in the June 14 car bombing of the U.S. Consulate in Karachi and another attack more than a month earlier.

In an announcement broadcast live on national television the Director General of the Pakistani Rangers, Major-General Salahuddin, said the three suspected militants had been arrested following raids on several houses in the Karachi area.

Officials have described the arrests as a "great success", adding several Kalashnikov rifles, pistols and ammunition had been seized in the raids.

The men are being held under Pakistan's new anti-terrorism laws, authorities say, allowing police to detain them without charge for at least 30 days.

The three are also being held in connection with a bomb attack outside the Karachi Sheraton in May which killed 14 people, including 11 French engineers. The bomber was among the dead.

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The bombing of the U.S. Consulate killed 12 Pakistanis and seriously injured more than 20.

'Holy war'

More than a week ago a previously unknown group calling itself al Qanoon claimed responsibility for the consulate bombing, saying it was launching a holy war against the United States.

It is unclear what if any militant group the three arrested are thought to have connections with.

In the weeks since the bombing the leaders of several militant groups have been interrogated by police working in cooperation with the American FBI.

Last week the Pakistani Ministry of Interior said it had credible evidence tying Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terror network to both bombings.

Announcing the latest arrests Monday, Salahuddin said the suspects had also been linked to a failed assassination attempt on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf earlier this year, as well as to attacks on western targets such as the McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food chains.

-- CNN correspondent Tom Mintier in Islamabad contributed to this report