Rao claims to eliminate five men associated with rival terror outfits

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Police on Thursday claimed to have foiled terror bid during upcoming Moharam by shooting down five alleged terrorists, associated with Daesh and al-Qaeda – two rival terrorist organizations – at a time.

According to Senior Superintendent Rao Anwar, an official known for staged encounters he upon tip off conducted a raid at the hideout of terrorists in Sachal area of the city. “When police laid a siege, the terrorists started firing whereas they also used hand grenade,” Anwar claimed, all five terrorists were killed in the encounter.

According to Rao, police had criminal record of all five terrorists and they were planning major attack in Karachi.

According to Rao, one of the terrorists was identified as Amir Sharif who was important member of the Al Qaeda and an engineer of drone technology. The terrorist were planning to manufacture a drone for targeting important installations, Rao claimed, adding the terrorists had produced a car, which would run without driver.

“We had them under surveillance for the past few days, but had to conduct the operation on an emergency basis as they could have moved soon,” added the SSP. Anwar further said the cell was involved in attacks on the Shia community and law enforcement personnel.

The deceased had been plotting terrorist activity during Ashura, he added.

Arms and ammunition, including explosives and RPG rockets, were from the slain terrorists.

Meanwhile, an alleged Daesh activist was arrested in a raid conducted by Federal Investigative Agency at Cannt area.

The FIA’s counter-terrorism department claims that the arrested alleged activist, Khalilur Rehman, was involved in recruiting people for the terror group through social media, adding, Rehman was running more than 50 social media pages in which hate material was uploaded.

As many as two mobile phones, Daesh flags were recovered from the suspect. The phones have been sent for forensic examination. FIA authorities said that a case has been registered against the suspect in counter-terrorism wing station at Islamabad.

Meanwhile, the suspect was presented before a magistrate at city court. FIA requested for his 14 days physical remand. The court approved his physical remand for seven days.