Following is the text of a statement issued by the Department of State on March 17, 2002, concerning the terrorist attack on an international church in Islamabad:

Press Statement Office of the Spokesman Department of State Washington, D.C. March 17, 2002

Statement by Secretary Powell: Attack on Church in Islamabad

We are outraged and deeply saddened by the despicable attack on an international church in Islamabad during Sunday morning worship. This brutal attack inflicted death and injury to people from a number of nationalities.

Among the five persons killed were two American family members from the U.S. Embassy, as well as a Pakistani and an Afghan national. Dozens more were injured.

On behalf of all our colleagues in the Department of State, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of all those killed and injured. We are cooperating closely with Pakistani law enforcement officials in the investigation and are determined to see the guilty parties swiftly brought to justice.

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