Eight alleged terrorists killed in Karachi police raid

KARACHI: Police killed at least eight alleged terrorists wanted for target killings and attacks on police during a raid in the southern port city of Karachi on Saturday, officials said.

Police stormed into a house in the low-income Manghopir neighbourhood of Karachi and after a gunfight killed eight militants and seized weapons, hand grenades and explosives, senior police official Rao Anwar told AFP.

"At least eight militants were killed and two policemen were wounded in the gunfight," Anwar said.

Anwar said that the militants were wanted for several target killings and the murders of police officials in Karachi.

Four of the eight militants have been identified as Irfan Munir, Saddam Hussain, Sharifullah and Ismail Mehsud, said SSP Anwar, adding that a huge quantity of weapons was also recovered in the raid.

The SSP Malir went on to say that Saddam Hussain was also involved in the deadly Abbas Town blast.

Karachi, a city of 20 million and Pakistan´s economic hub, is frequently hit by religious, political and ethnic violence. Paramilitary forces began a sweeping crackdown on militants in the city in 2013, which has led to a substantial drop in overall levels of violence.

Police prepares list of criminals

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh Police has prepared a list of criminals presently operating in the metropolis.

The CTD claimed that at present only 8 target killers, 30 extortionists and 18 street criminals are operating in the city.