In Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, a group of attackers opened fire on the police headquarters. One officer was injured and two terrorists were killed. The Pakistani Taliban, Tehrik-e-Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to Pakistan’s interior minister, the group consisted of five or six militants who broke into the headquarters with hand grenades. The group has holed up in the building and is surrounded by police and paramilitary units. Witnesses hear large explosions from the station.
It is not clear how many people were in the office when the attack started.
Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan has faced attacks by militant groups since November. That started when the Pakistani Taliban ended a ceasefire with the government. The Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) are a separate group, but work together with the Afghan Taliban, which has been in power in Afghanistan for more than a year. They in turn incite the TTP to ramp up their attacks.
Last month, more than 100 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Peshawar, northern Pakistan. That too was later claimed by TTP. The leaders of the group are now in hiding.
- Who are the Pakistani Taliban, in the crosshairs after the Peshawar attack?
- 100 dead in Pakistan attack, rescue operation completed
- Pakistan Police: Suicide bomber in mosque wore police uniform