Pakistan militants launch deadly suicide attack on police headquarters in Karachi

Militants launched a deadly suicide attack on the police headquarters in Pakistan’s largest city on Friday in a hail of gunfire and a series of loud explosions.

Security forces retook the building after several hours and killed three militants, a government spokesperson said.

The death toll was not immediately clear, but the spokesperson said three security force members and a civilian were dead and 18 others wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban, in a brief statement, claimed responsibility.

“I confirm that the operation against the terrorists is over,” said Murtaza Wahab, a government adviser.

President Arif Alvi made a statement condemning the attack, while prime minister Shahbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operation.

Earlier, TV footage showed officers surrounding the city’s central police station as residents reported the sound of explosions and gunfire.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since November, when the Pakistani Taliban ended a ceasefire.

The brazen assault on Karachi’s police headquarters comes two weeks after a suicide bomber disguised as a police officer killed 101 people at a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Overseas cricket teams are competing in the Pakistan Super League, and Karachi is one of the host cities. There is a game scheduled for Saturday. The police station is located along the route to the stadium and the players’ hotel is a few kilometres away.

Top teams shunned Pakistan for years after six police officers and two civilians were killed in a 2009 attack on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.