Cop martyred, 3 terrorists killed in attack on AIG Karachi office

 

Sanaullah sees ‘foreign hand’ behind attack on Karachi’s police head office

 

KARACHI (PPI): A police official martyred while three terrorists were killed as the office of Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi on Friday was attacked by some unknown assailants.

According to the reports, the attackers equipped with the latest automatic weapons besieged the police headquarters and started indiscriminate firing. They also propelled two hand grenades into the building and were trying to break into the office.

At least 8-10 terrorists entered the police office, they said, with the exchange of fire still going on with many explosions heard from the building. According to the sources, special security teams have got the four floors clear from the terrorists.

The police office is situated at the Shahra-e- Faisal, in which dozens of police staff are engaged in foiling the terrorist attack with full might. All the doors of the office were closed down and the light was also switched off to resistance to the militants. Additional police contingents from other areas have been called to handle the situation.

The Additional IG who was away from the office has confirmed the militant attack on the office and said that the security forces are fighting the terrorists assiduously while a heavy contingent of Rangers has also reached the spot.

During the clearance operation at Karachi Police Office (KPO), a suicide bomber blew himself up on the fourth floor after security officials cleared the third floor.

A powerful explosion took place at KPO which came under terrorist attack today. The powerful explosion shattered the window glasses of nearby buildings and a cloud of smoke surrounded the building’s fourth floor.

A suspected suicide bomber blew himself up on the fourth floor.

The Inspector General (IG) Sindh police said that two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire with the security officials while the operation is still underway to neutralise possibly up to five more terrorists in the Karachi Police Office (KPO).

IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed that two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire with the law enforcers and police cleared the third floor of the Karachi Police Office (KPO) – the additional inspector general (AIG) Karachi office adjacent to the Saddar police station.

He added that five more terrorists are possibly present at the KPO.

Moreover, Jinnah Hospital’s deputy director said that three injured persons were shifted to the emergency ward so far.

As per details, the terrorists reached the police office in a white Toyota Corolla car wearing fake police uniforms.

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.

A number of police officials were present inside the five-story building when the attack was launched.

Police cordoned off the area and blocked the Shahrah-e-Faisal for traffic, taking security measures.

The Rangers spokesperson said that the quick response force (QRF) of the paramilitary troops surrounded the KPO building and took their positions. An operation was started by Rangers and police to clear the KPO from terrorists. The police and rangers’ brave personnel have succeeded in clearing four stories.

Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi Friday strongly condemned the terror attack on the police office in Karachi.

In a statement, he prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

He said the whole nation stood with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Efforts would continue till the complete elimination of the menace of terrorism, he added.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the police office in Karachi.

Taking strict notice of the attack, the prime minister asked for a report on the incident. He appreciated the police and security forces for their effective action against the terrorists.

He instructed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan to extend full cooperation of the federal government in the clean up operation against the terrorists.

He underlined the need for collective action and full force of the state to root out the menace of terrorism.

He said the terrorists had once again targeted Karachi but this kind of cowardly acts could not weaken resolve of police and the law enforcement agencies.

“The whole nation stood with police and security institutions,” he said and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that there could be ‘foreign hand’ in the attack on Karachi’s police head office.

Rana Sanaullah said in a statement that at least six to seven terrorists came in a car and hurled hand grenades at Karachi Police Office (KPO) before entering the building.

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.

Unidentified armed men attacked the police chief’s office in Karachi while explosions were also heard before the gunshots.

The attackers hurled hand grenades from the backyard of the police head office and later they entered the four-storey building from the same route.

Police said staffers are still present in the police chief’s office when the attackers carried out explosions and gunfire.

DIG South Irfan Baloch told the media that at least six terrorists were present inside KPO building. He said that the terrorists entered the building from the second entrance as per initial report.

DIG Baloch said that they are trying to kill or arrest the terrorists at the earliest.