Karachi Terror Attack: Ahead of the Karachi terror attack at the head office building of the Karachi Police Chief, the security forces managed to secure back control of the building and almost five heavily-armed militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban (Pakistan) have been killed by the forces.

According to the media reports, the four-hour-long operation to seize back control of the five-storey building came to an end around 10.50 pm with four other people including two police constables, a rangers personnel and a civilian also killed in the heavy exchange of firing that took place between the TTP militants and security forces.

5 terrorists killed: Karachi police

Speaking to the media, a senior security official said five terrorists were killed during the operation.

Further, he said three were killed in the long gun battle while two blew themselves up which also caused some damage to one floor of the building.

In a tweet, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab wrote that he could confirm that the Karachi Police Office (KPO) building has been cleared. “Three terrorists have been neutralised,” he said.

Adding more details of the operation, the spokesperson said that four other people comprising two policemen, rangers personnel and a civilian had been killed while 17 others were admitted to hospital with injuries. There were conflicting reports on the number of terrorists who attacked and entered the building but police sources put their number down to eight.

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Clear details will be known on Saturday

On Friday, a senior police official said, “A clear picture will be known tomorrow as the combing and cleanup operation is being carried out meticulously in the building after taking control.”

“But the identification process is still going on it will be a while before we can say exactly how many terrorists attacked the building,” he said.

According to the senior police official, DIG South Irfan Baloch said that during the operation the police also found two cars with their doors open one at the back entrance of the building and one at the front where the terrorists came around 7.10 pm on Friday,” he said.

The DIG South said the bomb disposal squad had combed both cars for explosive devices and also the suicide vests of the terrorists.

“They came prepared for a standoff and had sophisticated weapons and explosives, They managed to get into the building wearing police uniforms.”

‘Big embarrassment’ for provincial government

The attack comes as a big concern and embarrassment for the provincial government as the Karachi Police Chief office and the Saddar police station are located on the main Shahrah-e-Faisal road which serves as Karachi’s main thoroughfare with a number of strategic installations, including the Pakistan Airforce’s Faisal Base and five-star hotels in close proximity.

Overseas cricket players who are currently competing in the Pakistan Super League are staying in these hotels with Karachi to host matches on Saturday and Sunday. However, the Sindh chief minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah said the PSL matches would not be affected by the incident.

A senior police official said as soon as the terror attack took place, security had been increased at the team hotels and also at the National Stadium where matches are taking place.

Road closed ahead of the terror attack

Moreover, he said that police closed down the Shahrah-e-Faisal road which links downtown Karachi to the airport during the operation to clear the building but the road was reopened at midnight.