A suspected US drone strike killed eight al-Qaeda-linked militants in northwest Pakistan yesterday.
Four of the dead were German nationals.
They died when two missiles from a suspected CIA pilotless aircraft struck a mosque in Mirali in North Waziristan.
The attack came a day after the United States and Britain warned of an increased risk of terrorist attacks in Europe. Western security officials said last week they believed a group in northern Pakistan were connected to a plot to stage attacks.
The militants were members of a group linked to al-Qaeda called Jihad Islami, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.
"People were gathering at the mosque for prayers when a missile hit the building," Mohammad Alam, a resident of Mirali, told reporters.
"The area has been cordoned off by militants and they are not allowing anyone there."
The State Department warned American citizens to exercise caution if travelling in Europe. Britain raised the threat level to "high" from "general" for its citizens travelling to Germany and France.
Agencies