Islamabad, Pakistan
CNN
—
At least two people were killed and 11 were injured after militants stormed the police headquarters in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, according to officials.
Up to 10 militants attacked the police station with hand grenades and shots were fired, an eyewitness told CNN. The Sindh provincial minister for labor, Saeed Ghani, confirmed the attack to CNN, adding the incident was ongoing.
Pakistan’s Taliban, known as Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, according to spokesman Mohammad Khorasani.
Multiple shots could be heard ringing through the area where the headquarters is located, according to footage from the scene, and eyewitnesses described hearing multiple explosions.
The injured are being treated at a hospital, and one of them is in critical condition, according to Murtaza Wahab…
2023-02-17 14:27:46
Article from www.cnn.com
On Monday morning, the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) took credit for a devastating attack on a police headquarters in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most populous city. The attack left at least seven people dead and over twenty more injured.
The attack took place on Monday morning at 11:00 AM local time when militants armed with AK-47s, grenades, and explosives stormed the police headquarters situated in a densely populated residential area. Witnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosive blasts as the militants made their way into the heavily protected building. Once inside, the attackers opened up with machine guns and deployed and detonated multiple explosives.
Despite an initial statement from the police about a “comprehensive response” to the attack, within hours the Taliban had claimed responsibility through a spokesperson. According to the TTP spokesperson, the attack was a “message to Pakistan’s leaders… to remove Pakistan’s presence in the ongoing Afghan war and to immediately stop supporting the US-led war”.
The Pakistani government has faced numerous claims of involvement in the U.S. war in Afghanistan, leading to increased tension and violence against military, police, and government buildings throughout the country. A bombing investigation by the U.S. and Afghan governments earlier this year revealed that Pakistani fighters had crossed the border to join the fight against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, but those claims were never formally confirmed by the Pakistani government.
The deadly attack on the Karachi Police Headquarters is the latest in a series of attacks on police and government facilities by the TTP, and serves to reinforce the group’s commitment to violence and destruction. Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack in a statement, calling it a “cowardly” act and emphasizing the need for “combined coordinated efforts of all the provinces to protect our citizens and make Pakistan a safe and secure residence for everyone”.
The attack is a stark reminder of the risks of interference in other countries’ affairs, and of the TTP’s utter disregard for human life. The Pakistani government must now prioritize efforts to protect its citizens and take a hard stance against terrorism in all its forms in order to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.