Panic and fear gripped Karachi’s II Chundrigar after four suspected terrorists tried to storm into the Pakistan Stock Exchange building Monday morning. All terrorists have been killed.
One police officer and two security guards were martyred in the attack, said the spokesperson of the Karachi police. Three policemen, two security guards and a stock exchange employee have been injured and shifted to a hospital.
According to the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Accident Emergency and Trauma Centre, a total of seven bodies and eight injured people were brought to the hospital. All of these people were men.
The police said that two men came in a car near the building’s entry point and tried to enter it. They, however, were stopped by the security guards after which the suspects threw a hand grenade at them and opened fire.
“In the morning, some armed terrorists tried to attack the Pakistan Stock Exchange building,” said Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmed Shah in a video statement. “They tried to enter the building through the parking lot but they were stopped by the security agencies.” The masterminds of the attack will be arrested soon, he added.
There were reports that some people were still inside the building when the attacked occurred and they locked themselves in their offices. The building has now been vacated.
Immediately after the attack, the police and Sindh Rangers reached the site and cordoned off the area. The security personnel vacated the building. The bomb disposal squad reached the site too.
The Sindh Rangers have said that all terror suspects involved in the attack have been killed, adding that a clearance operation is underway.
Four bags have been seized from the terrorists which included four SMGs, hand grenades, weapons, water bottles and dates.
City SSP says there were four alleged terrorists and all of them were killed during an exchange of fire with the security forces.
The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed the responsibility for the attack.
“I was on my way to my office when I received a call from a colleague saying something has happened near the Pakistan Stock Exchange building and shots can be heard,” said Abbas, who works in a building close to PSX, told SAMAA Digital. “At first, we thought it was a fight between two brokers. I heard gunshots when I reached the office, then I came to know it was actually a terrorist attack.”
The PSX is located on II Chundrigar Road, one of the busiest roads of the metropolitan city. Branches of multiple banks are also located inside the building.
‘Brave security guards‘
Ahmed Chinoy, the director of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, said that ‘brave’ security guards played a big role in stopping the terrorists from storming the building.
PSX Managing Director Farrukh Khan said that a security guard reportedly lost his life in the attack. “Two other security guards and a civilian were injured,” he told SAMAA TV. He lauded the efforts of the security forces and guards in responding to the attack. “They didn’t let the attackers enter the PSX compound and held them back successfully,” Khan added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has offered his condolences and regret over the attack. He said that the nation should be proud of its security forces and lauded their successful effort to hold back the terrorists.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has taken notice of the attack and summoned a detailed investigative report summoned. This is an attack on the economy of the country, he said.
On June 10, two people were injured in two separate attacks on Rangers in Karachi, the police said. The first attack targeted a Rangers vehicle in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, according to police officials. A paramilitary soldier was injured in the attack. The second cracker attack occurred near a Rangers post at Manzil Pump
Trading remains unaffected
The trading at the Pakistan Stock Exchange remained indifferent to the terrorist attack.
BMA Head of Research Faizan Ahmed said that the KSE-100 Index has been moving up.
At the time of the attack, approximately 10am on Monday, the index was at 33,939. The index lost 219 points within 15 minutes but recovered within one hour and then gradually moved up.
