Pakistani caterer, others arrested in NY bomb plot

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistani authorities have detained the co-owner of an upscale catering company in the capital and at least four other men in connection with the Times Square bomb plot, a Pakistani intelligence official said Friday.

The U.S. Embassy issued a warning to Americans in Pakistan about Hanif Rajput Catering Service, saying that "terrorist groups may have established links" to it. The unusual alert said the company was owned by a father and son, but it did not elaborate on its alleged ties to militants.

A Pakistani intelligence source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the son, Salman Ashraf Khan, 35, was arrested about 10 days ago on suspicion of links to Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani American accused of the attempted bombing in New York.

Four or five other people were also arrested in Islamabad, including at least one who was a close friend of Khan, the official said.

Hanif Rajput has catered elite events in the capital, including U.S. Embassy functions.

Reached briefly by telephone early Saturday, Rana Ashraf Khan, Khan's father, said his son went missing on the morning of May 10 after leaving his home for work. Rana Ashraf Khan said that he had heard nothing from his son since and that authorities had given him no information.

"My son loves his religion, but he has nothing to do with terrorism," he said.

According to the caterer's website, Khan completed studies in Houston in 2001, then worked his way up in the family business to become vice president.

Among the others arrested were an employee of Telenor, a cell phone company, and a man who is involved in a computer business in Islamabad, the intelligence official said.

The U.S. warning said American government personnel had been instructed to avoid patronizing the caterer. U.S. officials had relayed information about the caterer's suspected terrorism links to Pakistani authorities "for their action," the alert said.