KARACHI: Security lapses have been identified at the Karachi Police Office (KPO) – a central building on the city’s main artery – which came under attack by terrorists on Friday.
In the nerve-wracking operation that lasted for more than four hours, three militants were killed and four people, including two policemen and a sub-inspector of Sindh Rangers, were martyred.
Eighteen others, including police and Rangers personnel, were injured in the terror attack, which followed a deadly suicide attack at a mosque in Peshawar Civil Lines that left 84 people dead.
According to JEE News, there is no security gate to enter Police Lines Sadar, where the families of police personnel are staying.
Sources said that the terrorists entered the KPO by allegedly climbing the rear wall and the officials were not present when the three security posts of the City Police Chief’s office were attacked.
“The barbed wire on the back wall of the KPO was also cut,” he said, adding that Shahrah Faisal has no CCTV cameras installed to monitor the building.
Police investigators have collected the evidence. The vehicle in which the terrorists came is in the Sadar police station.
Law enforcement agencies have identified three terrorists involved in the KPO attack. Two of the terrorists belong to North Waziristan while one belongs to Lakki Marwat.
KPO was cleared after attack by militants.
In an hour-long operation, police commandos and paramilitary forces cleared the Karachi police office of terrorists, who stormed the building on Friday evening.
DIG East Muqadas Haider, DIG South Ifran Baloch, DIG Rapid Response Force (RRF) Nasir Aftab, Special Security Unit (SSU) and Sindh Rangers participated in the operation.
Pakistan Army also assisted law enforcement agencies.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon told JEE News that three terrorists have been killed in the operation. He claimed that the Karachi Police Office had no advance information about the threat of terrorism.
Following the attack, the IGP ordered extraordinary security measures at police headquarters across Sindh. He also ordered the expansion of the intelligence network.
Officials said the terrorists reached the KPO premises near FTC Building on Shaara Faisal in a white Corolla car around 7 pm.
He contacted KPO from Sadar Thane. When the policemen on duty asked the residents for their identity, they opened fire at the main gate of the KPO and hurled grenades, forcing the policemen to take cover and retaliate.
Soon after, the commandos swung into action to confront the terrorists, who had now barricaded themselves inside the five-storey police compound.
They were soon joined by several officers from the East and South Police Regions and Ranges who cordoned off the area by blocking both lanes of the busy Sharjah Faisal from FTC to Regent Plaza. They also took up positions in the police lines where the residential quarters of the police personnel are located. By this time a heavy shelling had started.
The lights were switched off as the attacker moved from one floor to another in the KPO. A heavy contingent of police and special forces reached inside the police complex.
The commandos continued the operation against the terrorists by clearing the floors of the KPO from the mezzanine to the fourth floor.
As the terrorists fled the emergency police operation and reached the roof of the building, SSU snipers were deployed on nearby buildings and SSU commandos engaged them. Another batch of SSU commandos took the injured personnel out of the building during the firing.
‘Terrorists were equipped with lethal weapons’
Talking to JEE News, DIG Moqdad Haider, who entered the KPO along with the policemen, said that they killed two terrorists, besides one was killed by the Rangers. He added that two terrorists were killed on the roof, while one blew himself up on the fourth floor.
DIG Haider said the terrorists also had bags containing food items and were armed with deadly weapons including an AK-47, indicating that they had a long-term plan. But they didn’t get a chance.
DIG South Irfan Baloch said that the terrorists attacked the complex from two to three sides. He said that the police also rescued 40-50 policemen and staff who were trapped.
Finally, bomb disposal squad personnel cleared the building by deactivating the suicide jackets worn by the two dead terrorists.
Security heightened across Karachi
Officials say that security has been increased at all police stations and other sensitive places and buildings in Karachi after the incident.
Strict vigilance has been ordered in police stations across the city.
