Five terrorists killed, four martyred after gunmen attack Karachi police chief office
Monitoring Desk
KARACHI: Gunmen barged into a police office on Karachi’s main Sharea Faisal highway on Friday evening, with loud sounds of gunfire and explosions echoing though the surrounding area.
Security officials said terrorists started firing indiscriminately as soon as they barged into the office.
Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) Friday night cleared the five-story office of the city’s police chief after nearly a four-hour operation — days after a deadly attack in Peshawar’s Police Lines.
At least three militants blew themselves, while two were gunned down in the shootout, officials confirmed, as they swept the office situated on the main artery of Sharea Faisal.
Four people — including Rangers and police personnel — also lost their lives, and 18 people were injured, officials confirmed to the media.
DIG South Irfan Baloch said that at least six terrorists managed to enter the Karachi Police Chief’s office through rear entrance.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reportedly took responsibility for the attack in a message sent by their spokesman to journalists
The attack began at around 7:10pm and continued till late night on Friday, while multiple explosions were reported as well after terrorists targeted the five-storey police building.
A police officer told the media that the attackers entered the office wearing police uniforms — a similar move used in the Peshawar mosque suicide attack that claimed the lives of more than 80 people.
Three militants were killed and 10 people — including Rangers police personnel —injured till last reports came in.
Police officials said that armed suspects — whose total numbers are unknown at the moment — fired several rounds at the head office — located adjacent to the Sadar Police Station.
As the police bid to beat the terrorists, Rangers have been called in and the roads leading towards the police office for traffic — to ensure that citizens remain safe.
In view of the terrorists’ attack, the Karachi Traffic Police blocked both sides of Sharea Faisal from Avari Hotel to Nursery.
In a bid to avoid inconvenience to commuters, the traffic coming from Avari Hotel’s side is being diverted to Teen Talwar and Cantonment Railway Station. While the traffic coming from the Nursery area is being diverted to Korangi Road.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a media interview on Friday said that there could be ‘foreign hand’ in the attack on Karachi’s police head office.
He added the police were the main target of the attack and he claimed everyone knew about the perpetrator of the incident, while mentioning the federal government would provide all out support to the Sindh government in the investigation.
The minister added the police personnel were bravely responding to the onslaught of terrorists.
Rana Sanaullah said that commandos of police and Rangers had arrived at the site to deal with the terrorists.
He said that the federal government is in touch with the Sindh Police and “all assistance will be provided.”
Sanaullah mentioned that he had spoken to the chief secretary and IG Sindh, who confirmed that the police saw “six to seven terrorists” entering the building.
Responding to a question, he said there was a general security threat following the terror attack in Peshawar. “All the institutions are fully alert across the country,” he added.
The security czar stressed the need for taking further steps to counter the fresh wave of terrorism.
“The police have said that the terrorists threw a grenade after parking the vehicle, and used that as a cover for entering the building,” he revealed.
