Three terrorists killed, 4 embrace martyrdom in attack on KPO

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Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho, while talking to media outlets, also confirmed the terrorist attack and informed that the exchange of firing with terrorists was still underway.

The Rangers spokesman informed that about 8 to 10 terrorists had attacked the building. According to hospital sources, an injured person had been taken to Jinnah Hospital from the spot.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack that emerged around 7:15 pm.

Three floors of the five-storey building have been cleared, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, adding two floors and the rooftop remained.

Police officials said that armed suspects fired several rounds at the head office located adjacent to the Saddr Police Station. At least 8-10 terrorists were inside the police office, they said.

Additional police contingents from other areas took part in the operation. The Additional IG who is away from the office has confirmed the militant attack the office and said that the security forces were fighting the terrorists while a heavy contingent of Rangers reached the spot. Rangers, police start operation against terrorists at KPO Rangers and police teams started a joint operation against the terrorists following the armed attack on the Karachi Police Office (KPO) – the Additional Inspector General (AIG) Office.

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 spokesperson added that the operation is being conducted on the reported presence of eight to 10 terrorists in the Karachi police chief’s office. 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 fourstorey 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.

‘Premature to determine terror outfit behind Karachi Police attack’

Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday said that it was too early to determine which terror outfit could be behind the attack on the Karachi Police Office.

Talking to a private news channel, the interior minister did not rule out the foreign involvement, saying it's premature at this stage to say this with conformity, but it was apparent that police personnel were the target of the attack like Peshawar incident.

Rana Sanaullah said that he had received a briefing on the attack from the Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon and the Sindh chief secretary.

The minister added that as per what he had been told, there were six to seven terrorists who had stormed the KPO through its front door. The interior minister said the terrorists lobbed grenades to gain access to the police office.

He said as per the Karachi Top cop AIG Javed Akhter Odho, the terrorist had reached the third floor (the top floor of the building) where armed guards and other police officers had engaged the attackers. “But the situation is not clear yet,” he added.

Asked whether he had any prior knowledge about a threat to the attack, Sanaullah denied any such threat alert. “There was a general threat of terrorism across the country but there was no specific threat for this office,” he added.

“Once police and Rangers enter the building, they will be able to neutralize the terrorists,” the interior minister said quoting Karachi’s top cop.

He further said that it was possible that some of the attackers could be wearing ‘explosives-laden suicide vests’. The minister said that he would be able to share more information once the operation is completed.

‘Condemnation pouring in’

The United Nations has condemned Friday's terrorist attack on the office of Karachi's police chief, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the attack and to the Pakistani government.