Heavily armed terrorists 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
Police sealed off traffic on the main road through the city and heavy contingents of security forces, including paramilitary soldiers, had arrived at the scene
An operation was launched to clear the Karachi Police Office (KPO) of the terrorists
The deafening sound of an explosion inside the police chief headquarters, which was stormed by terrorists was caught on camera
#Etribune #Karachi pic
com/RArlxSuCSb — The Express Tribune (@etribune) February 17, 2023 According to sources, two Special Service Group (SSG) teams of Pakistan Army are leading the ongoing clearance operation
Troops of Special Operations Wing (SOW) of Pakistan Rangers Sindh are participating in the clearance operation, they added
Sindh police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said two terrorists have been killed so far while the KPO building has been not been declared cleared yet
DIG South Irfan Baloch said that at least six terrorists managed to enter the Karachi Police Chief’s office through rear entrance
He said that top police officers were present in the building
“A heavy contingent of police and rangers has arrived
We are trying to arrest terrorists dead or alive," he said
Security officials said terrorists started firing indiscriminately as soon as they barged into the office
Loud explosions were heard several minutes later, with one powerful explosion on the fourth floor shattering glass windows and damaging parts of the building
DIG South Irfan Baloch said the powerful explosion took place when an apparent suicide bomber detonated his explosives on the fourth floor
The bomb disposal squad has been called in, he added
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) took responsibility for the attack in a message sent by their spokesman to journalists, according to Reuters
In an update, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab said the KPO is a five-storey building with three floors have been cleared of terrorists so far by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) including police, army and Rangers
KPO is a 5 storey building, 3 floors have been cleared so far by law enforcement agencies including police, army and rangers
Army snipers are also present to deal with the terrorists at the rooftop — Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023 “Army snipers are also present to deal with the terrorists at the rooftop,” he said adding that the LEAs have also reached the rooftop of the KPO building
Law enforcement personnel have reached the rooftop of the KPO building — Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023 Sindh Rangers spokesperson said in a statement that Rangers Quick Response Force (QRF) reached the scene and cordoned off the area upon receiving the information about the attack on KPO
Rangers started an operation against the terrorists along with the Sindh police
Initially, the operation was launched on the information of the presence of 8 to 10 armed terrorists inside the KPO building, the spokesperson added
In a statement, DIG East Muqaddas Haider said he was inside the building along with the police commandos
First floor has been cleared of terrorists while forces are facing resistance from militants present on the roof, he added
He said terrorists are armed with modern weapons
However, police sources said four terrorists present on the roof of the building are wearing suicide jackets
SSP South Asad Raza said snipers have been deployed on the building in front of the KPO to target the terrorists from there
Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon said in statement that at least two terrorists have been killed and some others injured
"We are trying to complete the operation as soon as possible," he added
At least four injured including two Rangers personnel, one policeman and an Edhi rescue official have been brought to Jinnah Hospital, according to rescue officials
A view of ongoing operation inside the Karachi Police Office
PHOTO: EXPRESS Meanwhile, security sources have disclosed that the number of terrorists who attacked the Karachi Police Office (KPO) is eight
“Four attackers are present on the roof of the building while four are on the floors,” security sources added
They added that as many as four injured and two dead bodies have been shifted to Jinnah Hospital so far
Police in a statement said the third floor of KPO has been cleared of the terrorists while operation is underway to eliminate terrorists from fourth floor and the roof of the police office
Police officers take position after a police office building was attacked by gunmen in Karachi, Pakistan February 17, 2023
PHOTO: REUTERS Police officials said following the attack, the police personnel retaliated immediately and personnel from other police stations and police commandos have also been summoned to deal with the emergency situation
Additional IG Javed Alam Odhu has confirmed the attack on the police office, saying that the security personnel are fighting the terrorists while a heavy contingent of Rangers has also reached the spot
SSU commandos and Rangers officials have entered the police office and the electricity of the office has been suspended
Traffic is being directed by security personnel in Karachi
Counter terrorist operation has been launched by Sindh Police and Pakistan Rangers pic
com/rVsqqkbYB7 — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) February 17, 2023 Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the attack and directed district inspector generals (DIGs) to send necessary police force from their respective zones to the scene
In a statement, he directed the officials to immediately arrest the culprits
“The attack on the Karachi Police Chief's office is not acceptable in any case
I want a report of the incident from the officer concerned,” he was quoted as saying in the statement
CM Murad also reached the scene and monitoring the operation from the control room
The state-run PTV news reported that Pakistan Rangers and elite police force have cordoned off the area near AIG Office Karachi and a counter terrorist operation has been launched against the terrorists
“According to incoming reports hand grenades and automatic guns were used by no less than eight terrorists,” it added
Pakistan Rangers and elite police force have cordoned off area near AIG Office Sindh, Karachi and are now in the process of launching operation against miscreants
According to incoming reports hand grenades & automatic guns were used by no less than 8 terrorists
pic
com/CGlfK0XmrP — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) February 17, 2023 Speaking to the media, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon condemned the attack, saying that terrorists have tried to challenge the provincial government's writ
CM Murad is personally monitoring the operation against terrorists and police and Rangers will not let the terrorists to achieve their sinister objectives, he added
He also denied that the provincial government had received any terror alert regarding any attack
Foreign Minister and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the terrorist attack on Karachi police
“Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before
We have full faith they will do so again… such cowardly attacks will not deter us,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle
Condemn the terrorist attack on Karachi police
Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before
We have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us
#IstandwithKarachiPolice — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) February 17, 2023 Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said at least two people including one policeman and one civilian have been martyred in the attack
“So far I can confirm that we have 1 policeman & 1 civilian who have embraced martyrdom
While 3 rangers personnel, 2 policemen & 1 policeman are injured so far,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle
So far I can confirm that we have 1 policeman & 1 civilian who have embraced martyrdom
While 3 rangers personnel, 2 policemen & 1 policeman are injured so far #KPO — Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023 This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly…
| Date: | 18-Feb-2023 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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