Pakistan: a police complex in Karachi stormed by the Pakistani Taliban
The police compound stormed by the Pakistani Taliban in Karachi this Friday, February 17, 2023. AFP - ASIF HASSAN
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A major police compound was stormed in Karachi on Friday, February 17, 2023. As intense firefights continued to rage in the evening, the Pakistani Taliban issued a claim.
The attack is now over.
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Armed men on Friday attacked a complex made up of several police buildings and residences housing hundreds of officers and their families.
It happened in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and the country's economic and financial capital, located on the southern coast.
"
Mujahideen attacked Karachi police office
," confirmed a spokesperson for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan's Taliban, in a claim issued via WhatsApp.
Around 10:30 p.m. local time, a correspondent from Agence France-Presse still heard two loud explosions followed by exchanges of fire.
►Also read Pakistan: resurgence of insecurity and attacks by the Taliban
The attack by this suicide squad killed seven people, including the three assailants.
“
Four people were killed in the attack, including two policemen, a (paramilitary) ranger and a cleaner
,” said Sindh provincial government spokesman Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui.
“
The operation ended with the death of the three terrorists.
»
“
It's a four-story building.
The police and rangers (paramilitary) have cleared the first three floors and are approaching the fourth
,” provincial head of government Syed Murad Ali Shah told Ary News earlier.
"
They used a rocket on the gate
," says Interior Rana Sanaullah, on Samaa TV.
Volunteers carry an injured paramilitary soldier to hospital following the attack on the police compound in Karachi on Friday, February 17, 2023. AFP - RIZWAN TABASSUM
“The whole nation stands with the police and security organs”
Dozens of ambulances and police vehicles rushed to the scene, noted the AFP correspondent.
One of the three assailants blew himself up.
Several members of the security forces were also injured, including two rangers.
One of them is seriously injured.
“
Once again, terrorists have attacked Karachi.
Such acts of cowardice cannot break the will and determination of the police and law enforcement agencies.
The whole nation stands with the police and security organs
,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement.
► See also Pakistan: for the police, the Peshawar attack was committed in retaliation for their actions
Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, neighboring Pakistan has faced a resumption of attacks, after several years of relative calm.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of letting armed groups use Afghan soil to plan attacks, which the Afghan regime denies.
Recent attacks are mainly the work of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the regional branch of IS.
On January 30, an attack on a mosque in Peshawar killed 84 people, including 83 police officers and one civilian.
In the year since the Taliban took power in Kabul, attacks have increased by 50% in Pakistan, according to the Pakistani institute PIPS.
With agencies
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Shehbaz Sharif
Pakistan
Taliban
Terrorism