KARACHI, Pakistan: Security forces thwarted a terrorist attack at the Chinese Consulate in Karachi on Friday and killed three terrorists, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
However, two police personnel were martyred while one security guard received injuries in the gunfire exchange with attackers.
As per the ISPR, all Chinese Officials present in the Consulate were safe.
“Terrorists attempted to enter Chinese consulate. Rangers and police have got control. Three terrorists killed. All Chinese safe. Situation under control,” the ISPR said in a press release.
Pakistan Police Service has evolved through testing times. Their displayed professionalism in recent times as first responders is commendable. From preempting the terrorism attempts to foiling these at first checking point is the testimony. Salute to our police and its martyrs.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 23, 2018
Talking to media outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told that it was a coward act of extremists to attack the Chinese Consulate.
Qureshi told that three attackers were killed while one blew himself up, which also resulted in martydom of two police personnel.
The foreign minister said that 21 Chinese were present in the Consulate when the attack was launched, and all of them are safe.
سیکورٹی اداروں نے آج کراچی کو ایک بڑی سازش سے بچا لیا ، تمام تین دھشت گرد ھلاک ہو چکے ہیں اس آپریشن میں دو پالیس کے جوانمردوں نے خون کا نذرانہ پیش کیا ۔ چائینہ قونصلیٹ کے تمام اھلکار محفوظ ہیں اور پولیس اور رینجرز صورتحال کے مکمل کنٹرول میں ہیں۔ سازش کی تہہ تک پہنچیں گے۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 23, 2018
Earlier in the morning, four armed personnel tried to enter the Chinese Consulate located in Karachi’s Clifton Block 4 but resisted by security guards deputed at the building.
Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of police and Rangers reached and sealed the whole area. The traffic police officials also halted the traffic moving towards the Consulate.
The heavy firing followed between the attackers and security forces.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Javed Alam Odho said that two police personnel were martyred while one person received injuries in the gunfire.
The DIG South also said that three of the attackers were killed, adding that weapons and suicide jackets were also recovered from their possession.
Gunfire following a loud bang heard near the Chinese consulate in Karachi – the Consulate is heavily guarded on all sides with streets blocked off and paramilitary guards posted there pic.twitter.com/DmvMcwZC14
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) November 23, 2018
In the meantime, the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of firing incident outside the Chinese Consulate.
The Chief Minister called the Additional Inspector General (AIG) and directed him to send more contingents of police to cope up with the situation. He also directed the AIG to keep him updated with the situation of every second.
Attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi an unacceptable & serious breach of security of diplomatic mission of Pakistan’s closest friend & most important foreign policy relationship; condolences to families of the brave police martyrs who strongly resisted terrorists & fought back
— Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) November 23, 2018