Karachi Police Office attack ‘mastermind’ killed in CTD IBO

KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist wanted in February 2023 Karachi Police Office (KPO) attack during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Karachi.

The mastermind of the Karachi Police Office attack, Omar Farooq, 35, was killed during a shootout with CTD personnel near Northern Bypass in the Mochko area of the port city on Tuesday night.

In a statement, the CTD spokesperson said, the team raided the location after receiving a tip-off about terrorist activity near the Hanfia mosque in the area. Earlier, the Sindh Home Department issued a threat alert regarding the presence of TTP terrorists.

A 9mm pistol and motorcycle were also recovered from the possession of the killed terrorist, he said. Earlier, when the police team reached the scene, the suspect opened fire to avoid arrest. In the ensuing exchange, the terrorist was wounded and fell.

In a talk with journalists, CTD DIG Asif Aijaz Shaikh said that the slain terrorist, Omar Farooq, aka Faridullah, was affiliated with the banned TTP and was the mastermind of the KPO attack and 2013 Abbas Town bombing.

CTD spokesperson said that the terrorist remained involved in various terrorism cases from 2013 to 2014 and 10 cases had been lodged against him in 2014.

According to the spokesperson, cases were registered against him in the Mubina Town Police Station, Sachal, CTD, Ittihad Town, Surjani Town, and Gulshan-e-Maymar.

Last year on February 17, three terrorists with suicide jackets entered the multi-storey KPO building. In the hours-long operation, all three terrorists had been killed and four persons, including two policemen and a Sindh Rangers sub-inspector, embraced martyrdom. At least 17 other people, including police and Rangers personnel, were also injured in the terror attack