At least four people were killed when a Pakistan Taliban suicide squad stormed a police compound Friday in the port city of Karachi, with a gun battle raging for hours as security forces went floor-to-floor through an office building in pursuit of the assailants.
The attack comes just weeks after a bomb blast at a police mosque in the country's northwest killed over 80 officers, and officials said late Friday that security would be stepped up in the capital Islamabad.
Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab took on Twitter to confirm the operation's success.
"I can so far confirm that the KPO building has been cleared. 3 terrorists have been neutralised," he wrote.
I can so far confirm that the KPO building has been cleared. 3 terrorists have been neutralised
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023
According to DIG Dr Maqsood Ahmad said all the terrorists were killed during the operation.
During the operation, four people lost their lives including a policeman while 14 others got injured.
"Four people were killed in the attack, including two policemen, one ranger, and one sanitary worker," Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, adding 14 others were wounded.
The latest information is that 4 people were martyred (2 policemen, 1 rangers & 1 civilian) while 14 people are injured, who are being treated. Out of the injured 1 person is critical while the condition of 13 injured persons is stable.
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023
According to a list provided by Jinnah Hospital, those who died in the operation included 30-year-old police officer Ghulam Abbas and 37-year-old janitor Ajmal Meeshi s/o Saleem Meesh.
Six Rangers personnel also got injured during the operation including 26-year-old Tahir S/O Amjad, 40-year-old Abdul Rahim S/O Shan Muhammad, 35-year-old Imran S/O Younis, 30-year-old Aftab S/O Abdul Nabi, 28-year-old Mohammad Latif S/O Fayal Badshah and Umair.
Police officials who got injured during the operation included Muhammad Nawaz, Haji Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Khaliq, Rizwan and Zarrab. An Edhi worker Sajid Balochalso got injured during the attack.
Two terrorists were killed in a direct fire while the third was killed when his suicide jacket got blasted from a sniper fire.
A spokesperson for the Sindh Rangers added the operation had been completed and the process of clearing the area was underway.
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.
Earlier reports suggested that at least 8-10 terrorists entered the police office with the exchange of fire continued for hours with many explosions heard from the building. According to the sources, special security teams have got the four floors clear from the terrorists.
Pakistan Taliban take responsibility
The Pakistan Taliban said a suicide squad had stormed the tightly guarded Karachi police office compound that is home to dozens of administrative and residential buildings.
A spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message to AFP.
"Our Mujahideen martyrs have attacked Karachi Police Office. More details to follow," he said.
Operation
The police office is situated at the Shahra-e- Faisal, in which dozens of police staff remained 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 had been called to handle the situation.
The Additional IG who was away from the office confirmed the militant attack on the office and said that the security forces were fighting the terrorists assiduously while a heavy contingent of Rangers has also reached the spot.
The Inspector General (IG) Sindh police said that two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire with the security officials.
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.
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.
The sources 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.
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.
They were shot in their lower parts and are said to be out of danger. The Sindh Rangers inspector’s name is Abdul Rahim. Emergency has been imposed in Jinnah Hospital Karachi.
It is assumed 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 100 people.
Sindh CM takes notice
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the attack on the office of the additional inspector-general, instructing several DIGs to send police force to the site.
"The attack on the Karachi police office is not acceptable under any circumstances," he said, demanding an initial report from the concerned officer immediately.
The chief minister mentioned that he is personally monitoring the situation and has directed officials concerned to arrest the suspects involved.