Four policemen were killed and at least 14 injured in a dawn attack by unidentified gunmen outside the US information office in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta on Tuesday, police said.
No staff of the US Information Service office were injured in the attack on the heavily guarded building located on one of Calcutta's busiest streets, Gordon Duguid, press attache in the US Embassy in New Delhi told reporters.
"Nothing happened inside the centre. We are waiting for the Calcutta police to provide us with more details," he said.
He said embassy officials were in touch with police in Calcutta to get more details of the shooting.
Police said the two gunmen, riding motorcycles, sprayed the front of the building with bullets. The centre houses offices to promote American culture and education and a library that is very popular amongst residents of the city.
Security outside American establishments throughout the country has been tightened since the deadly hijacked aircraft attacks on the United States in September.
(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2002)
