Police officer Bin Yamin said the detained men were linked to the Taliban in the South Waziristan region.

He said one of the arrested men was wearing an explosives vest and was on his way to attack an Islamabad mosque during Friday prayers when officers seized him.

Questioning of the suspects indicated that in addition to the mosque, they were also planning to hit government buildings in the capital, possibly even Parliament, Yamin added.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed the arrests, saying authorities learned about a possible suicide bombing at Parliament or nearby buildings Thursday night, after which they quickly increased security in the area.