Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: In a shocking incident, unidentified gunmen opened fire near the Chinese Consulate in Pakistan’s port city Karachi on Friday morning. The Consulate is located at the heavily guarded affluent Clifton block-4 area. Reports say two policemen, three attackers were killed in the gunfire. The gunmen, armed with automatic weapons, proceeded towards the gate of the consulate after killing the policemen, defence contractor and analyst Ikram Sehgal said.
Four people were also injured in the attack, Dunya TV reported. As per Pakistan media reports, “Three to four men attempted to enter the Chinese consulate and fired upon being stopped by security guards”. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the area after an exchange of fire between a security guard and unknown assailants. The area, considered a red zone, and has a heavy security presence.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Javed Alam Odho confirmed the death of the two policemen, reported Dawn news. An explosion, the nature of which has not been determined as yet, was also heard in the high-security Clifton area. In the wake of the attack, heavy contingents of police and Pakistan Rangers were rushed in.
The firing has ended and the area was being cleared by police and Rangers.
Taking note of the incident, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail has called for a report on the matter from the Sindh inspector general of police. China is considered to be Pakistan’s “all weather” friend and the latest attack could possibly strain ties between the two countries.
Baloch Liberation Army behind attack?
An unverified account of Baloch Liberation Army, a militant organisation, has taken responsibility of the attack. @BLA_Tweets posted a photo of the alleged attackers along with the caption “Karachi: Fidayeen of BLA attacked Chinese embassy in Karachi.” Its second tweet read, “Fidayeen Sarbaz of BLA Majeed Brigade, Azal Khan Baloch, Raziq Baloch and Raees Baloch embraced martyrdom in a Fidayee attack on Chinese consulate in #Karachi”
The organisation previoously have kidnapped and killed two Chinese engineers working in the province. The BLA is marked as a terrorist organization by Pakistan and the United Kingdom but not by the US, European Union and India.
Karachi: Fidayeen of BLA attacked Chinese embassy in Karachi. pic.twitter.com/IRgrU28WzG
— BLA Official (@BLA_Tweets) November 23, 2018
Fidayeen Sarbaz of BLA Majeed Brigade, Azal Khan Baloch, Raziq Baloch and Raees Baloch embraced martyrdom in a Fidayee attack on Chinese consulate in #Karachi. #Balochistan #Pakistan #China pic.twitter.com/teKDT3E5qg
— BLA Official (@BLA_Tweets) November 23, 2018
India strongly condemns terrorist attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi
India strongly condemns the terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi this morning. We condole the loss of lives in this dastardly attack. There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously. Such terrorist attacks only strengthens the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
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