Threats close Karachi U.S. Consulate

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

KARACHI, Pakistan (CNN) -- The U.S. Consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi suspended operations on Monday because of security threats, consulate officials told CNN.

According to the officials, consulate staff were sent home and told to await further instructions.

It is not clear when the consulate will reopen.

The action comes less than a week ahead of the trial of three men accused of being involved in a June 14 suicide car bomb attack on the U.S. Consulate that 12 killed Pakistanis and wounded 50 others.

U.S. missions across Pakistan have been scaling back their operations over the last five months and France closed its Karachi consulate in July.

On May 8 a suicide bomb outside the Sheraton hotel in Karachi killed 11 French engineers and injured dozens of others.

The Pakistani interior ministry has said on several occasions that it has credible evidence tying Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terror network to both bombings.

Police say the suspects facing trial for the two attacks 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.