Armed men attack police compound in Pakistan’s Karachi

At least two people have been killed as armed men attacked a police compound in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi.

Gunfire and explosions were heard on Friday outside the premises, which is home to several police buildings and officer residences.

At least one police officer and a civilian were killed and 11 security force members were wounded, said government officials and Ghulam Nabi Memon, police chief for Sindh province, where Karachi is the capital.

Security forces retook the building after several hours and killed three attackers, a government spokesman said. Police commandoes and a bomb disposal squad entered the building, and a security sweep was under way.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.

President Arif Alvi condemned the assault in Pakistan’s chief commercial city.

When the attack began, a huge explosion was heard inside the station after a series of smaller blasts.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said five or six gunmen were involved and threw hand grenades as they tried to force their way into the police headquarters.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in attacks by armed groups since November when the Pakistani Taliban unilaterally ended a months-long ceasefire with the government.

The assault on Karachi’s police headquarters was carried out weeks after a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman killed 101 people at a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Authorities blamed the TTP for orchestrating the bombing.