Taliban claim attack on police in Pakistan’s Karachi, two dead

Taliban claim attack on police in Pakistan’s Karachi, two dead: In the midst of gunfire and grenade explosions that shook the centre of Karachi on Friday, militants launched a bold attack on the police headquarters of Pakistan’s largest city, according to officials. Two of the attackers were killed and at least one security official wounded, said Ghulam Nabi Memon, police chief for the southern Sindh province where Karachi is located.

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In a brief statement, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho confirmed that an attack was ongoing and said police and paramilitary troops were responding. Earlier, TV footage showed officers surrounding the city’s central police station.

Residents said they also heard the sound of explosions amid the clashes. According to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, the attack involved five to six militants who tried to break into the police headquarters while throwing hand grenades.

Sharjeel Memon, the Sindh province’s spokesman, said the attackers had been surrounded although shooting and fighting were still underway. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since November when Pakistani Taliban ended a monthslong cease-fire with the government.

Pakistan’s outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban are a separate group but are allies of the Taliban in Afghanistan, who seized power there more than a year ago as US and NATO troops withdrew. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened Pakistani militants, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding across the border.