Taliban attacks police compound in Pakistan’s Karachi

Three members of security forces and one civilian killed in Pakistani Taliban attack in the southern Pakistani city.

At least four people have been killed as Pakistani Taliban fighters stormed a police compound in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi.

Gunfire and explosions were heard on Friday outside the premises, which is home to several police buildings and officer residences.

Three members of the security forces and a civilian were killed and several other security force members were wounded, said government officials and Ghulam Nabi Memon, police chief for Sindh province, where Karachi is the capital.

Two suicide bombers were killed and at least one blew himself up after entering the police building, officials added.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Murtaza Wahab, a government adviser, confirmed that police and paramilitary forces in a joint operation had cleared the police building within three hours of the attack late Friday.

“I confirm that the operation against the terrorists is over,” said Wahab.

President Arif Alvi condemned the assault in Pakistan’s chief commercial city and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif paid tributes to security forces for the successful operation.

When the attack began, a huge explosion was heard inside the station after a series of smaller blasts.

Commandos from the elite police unit, troops from paramilitary rangers and army snipers took part in the operation to hunt down the attackers that lasted for more than three hours

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in attacks by armed groups since November when the Pakistani Taliban unilaterally ended a months-long ceasefire with the government.

The assault on Karachi’s police headquarters was carried out weeks after a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman killed 101 people at a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Authorities blamed the TTP for orchestrating the bombing.