KARACHI: The Anti Extremism Cell (AEC) of Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday claimed to have foiled a big terror attack on the Ashura procession in the metropolis by recovering over 100 kg high explosive material and other substance.
SSP CID Chaudhry Aslam Khan informed that on a-tip off, a targeted raid was conducted at the hideout of suspected militants of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Paksitan (TTP) in Sultanabad area of Manghopir. “Seeing the CID personnel, the militants opened indiscriminate fire on them. The CID team retaliated the fire, triggering an encounter for about an hour in which heavy weaponry were used from both sides,” he told Daily Times.
“As a result, one militant, later identified as Gul Muhammad Mehsud, resident of the same area, received fatal bullet wounds and died on the spot, while his accomplices were trying to escape from the scene when CID personnel captured one of them, identified as Ataullah, who used to live in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Other accomplices managed to escape. However, raids were conducted to arrest them.” Khan also claimed to have recovered one Toyota Corolla car No M-7615 loaded with over 100 kilogrammes of explosives, two live suicide jackets, three water coolers fully loaded with explosive materials and containing ball bearings, nut bolts and iron pieces.
Two motorcycles and huge cache of weapons, including two Kalashnikovs and two pistols were also recovered from their possession. Khan informed that in preliminary investigation, Attaullah disclosed that the accused belonged to banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, having close links to outlawed TTP Karachi chief Sher Khan Mehsud. He said that the terrorists along with their absconding companions had to carry out bomb blast attack on Ashura procession and they first had to blow up motorcycle with bomb to create panic among the mourners so as to shatter security measures and then one of their accomplices had to hit the explosive laden vehicle in main procession, while other accomplices, who were suicide bombers had also to blow themselves up.
According to Khan, the accused further revealed that they were also involved in recent bomb attacks carried out in Orangi and Abbas Towns in the metropolis. Police officials claimed that IGP Sindh Fayyaz Leghari also held a press conference on CID’s successful raid and appreciated its team for saving the city from massive bloodshed. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad also appreciated the CID team and announced Rs2 million reward for it. – Dailytimes
