Three would-be suicide bombers were killed along with a handcuffed hostage when one of the bombers blew himself up following a police raid on a house early on Friday, police said. They were believed to be members of terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. ... which is now an element of al-Qaeda in Pakistain.
Police raided the house in Baldia Town following information from an activist of the group arrested on Thursday, AP reported.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! I'll talk! I'll talk! Just put them back!"
They hurled five hand grenades at the police before one of them blew himself up, Karachi Police Chief Wasim Ahmed said, adding terrorist leader Raheemullah was arrested from the house.
Target: "We have saved Karachi from death and destruction. We know [about their identities and intended targets], but we cannot disclose them immediately," Sindh Police Chief Babar Khattak said, adding the terrorists were suspected of planning an attack on a 'high-profile' target in Karachi.
The handcuffed hostage was identified as Shaukat Afridi, a transport worker who supplied fuel to the US-led forces in Afghanistan. He was kidnapped five months ago for a ransom of five million dollars.
Raheem allegedly masterminded the April 2006 Nishtar Park suicide attack, the killing of Allama Hassan Turabi in July 2006 and the October 18, 2007, twin blasts at Karsaz. The police also seized explosives, hand grenades and rifles from the house.