Karachi: Attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange, seven killed, including four attackers, banned Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility

At least seven people, including four assailants, were killed in a militant attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, on Monday.

A Twitter account linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack and said members of the Majeed Brigade took part in the operation.

According to Riaz Sohail, a correspondent from Karachi, the incident took place around 10 am and according to initial information, the attackers entered the premises of the building through the parking lot and gained access by throwing a grenade.

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According to the correspondent, a Karachi police spokesman said that a sub-inspector of Karachi police on duty at the entrance and two bodyguards of the stock exchange were killed in the firing and grenade attack by the attackers.

According to the spokesman, four attackers were killed in the exchange of fire between the police and the militants while two civilians including three policemen, two security guards and a stock exchange employee were also injured in the exchange of fire.

An earlier statement from a police spokesman put the death toll at 10.



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According to police surgeon Dr Qarar Abbasi, they have so far recovered seven bodies, including four attackers, two security guards and a policeman.

A police spokesman said the attackers also had modern weapons, grenades and other items in their possession.

A heavy contingent of police and Rangers remained outside the building after the incident and according to a Karachi police spokesman, the building and surroundings of the Pakistan Stock Exchange were also searched to clear the area.

Sindh Additional IG Ghulam Nabi Memon told the BBC that the attackers came in a silver Corolla and were stopped by police at the gate outside where the exchange of fire took place. He said two assailants were killed outside the gate while two managed to reach inside but were also killed.

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A police spokesman said modern weapons, grenades and other items belonging to the attackers had also been seized.
Ghulam Nabi Memon said the attackers could not enter the main building and grenades, explosives and other weapons were recovered from them.

Farrukh Khan, MD of the stock exchange, also told Geo TV that the attackers did not manage to enter the building and managed to enter the premises of the stock exchange. He said business activities on the trading floor were not affected.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has condemned the attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange and demanded a detailed inquiry report into the incident.

'This attack is similar to the attack on the Chinese consulate'
Speaking to media outside the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Raja Umar Khattab, in-charge of the Sindh Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), said that today's attack was somewhat similar to the attack on the Chinese Consulate in 2018.

He said that the vehicle used in today's attack was cleared by the concerned agencies and one of the attackers was registered in the name of a person named Salman.

He said that the attacker named Salman belonged to Ketch district of Balochistan.

Raja Umar Khattab said that the vehicle used in the attack on the Chinese Consulate was not stolen but was cleared.

He said that this suggests that 'terrorists have enough funds' which is why they buy vehicles from the market and use them.

In response to a question, he said that no ammunition was recovered from the possession of the attackers but weapons, grenades, launchers, Kalashnikovs and food items were recovered from them.

Raja Umar Khattab said he could not immediately identify the attackers. An attacker has been identified. One of the attackers is named Salman, the details of the others will be revealed soon.


CTD chief Omar Khattab inspecting the scene
The attack involved the help of 'enemy agencies', DG Rangers claimed
DG Rangers Sindh Major General Omar Ahmad Bukhari has said after the attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange that this terrorist attack cannot take place without the help of any enemy foreign agency in which according to him India's secret agency 'RAW' is at the top.

Addressing a press conference along with Karachi Police Chief AIG Ghulam Nabi Memon, he said that we are aware of the uneasiness of enemy foreign agencies, especially RAW, in this regard.

Major General Bukhari said that the scope of terrorist operations has shrunk over the years due to joint operations by law enforcement agencies.

He said that we are fully aware of the need to mobilize the remaining sleeper sales, helpers and facilitators including MQM London, BLA and other misguided people in Balochistan to disturb the peace of the province. Will be done

He said that today's wind