Gunmen seize residential building in southern Pakistani city of Karachi, battle police

Gunmen Seize Building in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan, Sep 11, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Unidentified attackers seized a residential building in an upscale neighborhood of Karachi on Wednesday and fought a gunbattle with police.
Three officers were injured, a senior police official said. The local hospital said it had received no casualties.
A police officer at the scene said it was possible hostages were being held inside the building. It was not clear if the attackers had made any demands.
Although the neighborhood in southern Karachi is heavily populated by foreign businessmen, there was no immediate indication the attack was linked to the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States or was connected to terrorist activity.
The gunmen were holed up on the top floor of a three-story building. They opened fire on the first two police cars that reached the area, and shooting was continuing two hours later.
The building has six apartments, but is not believed to have any foreign residents.
Abdul Haseeb, the assistant superintendent of police, said the gunmen threw two hand grenades at the forces besieging them outside. The grenades caused no casualties, he said.
Shops in the area slammed down their shutters, and residents locked their doors and windows. Streets all around the neighborhood were deserted.
Haseeb said he was unaware of anyone leaving the building since the gunmen took it over.
Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, is a hotbed of sectarian violence, crime and - lately - terrorism against foreign targets.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

Pakistani Police Kill Karachi Gunman

By AFZAL NADEEM Associated Press Writer
KARACHI, Pakistan, Sep 11, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Police killed one gunman and captured four others after the men seized a residential building in an upscale neighborhood of Karachi on Wednesday.
The last two gunmen were led out of the building blindfolded after a three-hour gunbattle. Earlier, one of the gunmen was killed and two were captured when they tried to escape, said provincial Home Secretary Brig. Mukhtar Ahmed.
The motive behind the attack was not immediately clear.
One police officer was carried out with a bleeding leg and taken away in an ambulance. At least one more wounded officer was inside, police said.
Although the area of southern Karachi where the incident took place is heavily populated by foreign businessmen, there was no immediate indication the attack was linked to the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States or was connected to terrorist activity.
The four-story building has six apartments on the upper floors and shops on the ground floor. No foreign residents are believed to live there.
After seizing the building, the gunmen opened fire on the first two police cars that reached the area.
Abdul Haseeb, the assistant superintendent of police, said the gunmen threw two hand grenades, but caused no casualties.
Shops in the area slammed down their shutters, and residents locked their doors and windows. Streets all around the neighborhood were deserted.
Police commandos in body armor and helmets entered the building and slowly worked their way to the upper floors.
Police, firing on the gunmen from the rooftops of neighboring buildings, called on the men to surrender during a lull in the shooting. Chants of "Allahu Akbar," or God is great, were heard from the roof.
Just before the gunbattle ended, police brought one woman and her young child, both in tears, down from the second floor to safety.
Pakistani police have been on alert for terrorist activity on Sept. 11, but police said there could also be a criminal motive.
Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, is a hotbed of sectarian violence, crime and, lately, terrorism against foreign targets.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.