Three suspected militants blow up to avoid arrest in Karachi: police
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Karachi, Sept. 26, IRNA
Pakistan-Militants
Three suspected militants blew themselves up in the port city of Karachi when the police launched operation to arrest them on Friday, the city police chief said.
The law enforcement agencies launched operation early morning in the city's 'Baldia Town' locality after their third colleague provided tip to the police during interrogation, Wasim Ahmed said.
Ahmed said that Rahimullah, ring leader of the suspected militants, was arrested from a separate place who told the police during questioning that his two other colleagues are hiding in a house for attacks in the city.
The suspects threw hand grenades at the police but the police chief said that the police were safe due to security measures.
"We launched the operation on confirmed information that the suspects were hiding in a house for possible attacks," he said and added they were wanted for their hand in attack on a religious gathering in Karachi in April 2006.
Over 50 people were killed in a deadly bomb blast at the city's Nishtar Park.
Ahmed said that the house where the suspects were hiding totally collapsed after they blew themselves up.
"We made Karachi safe," the police chief said.
He said that the police had already asked the residents near the house to shift to other areas to avoid casualties as they were expected the militants could make someone hostage to use them as human shield.
Witnesses said the militants showed resistance and continued firing at the police for some time.
Bomb disposal experts were called to search the collapsed building to find if there is any explosive.
Police sources said that the militants were planning some attacks in Karachi today after the Friday prayers.
Some groups had arranged processions to mark the 'Al-Quds' day on the occasion of 'Jumaat-ul-Widaa' ) the last Friday of Ramazan).
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