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Karachi Police Stop Attack Meant for Chinese Consulate Karachi Police Stop Attack Meant for Chinese Consulate
(35 minutes later)
KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani security forces stopped an attempted terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi on Friday morning, officials said, after an extended gun battle outside a security checkpoint.KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani security forces stopped an attempted terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi on Friday morning, officials said, after an extended gun battle outside a security checkpoint.
Officials said that all three attackers were killed, and that two police officers were dead. On the street, the police checkpoint could be seen pocked with bullet marks.Officials said that all three attackers were killed, and that two police officers were dead. On the street, the police checkpoint could be seen pocked with bullet marks.
“They tried to enter the visa section but did not succeed,” said Karachi’s police chief, Amir Shaikh.“They tried to enter the visa section but did not succeed,” said Karachi’s police chief, Amir Shaikh.
Police officials said that at least one suicide vest had been recovered, and bomb squad members were on the scene to dispose of the explosives. One wounded police officer was taken to a hospital near the site of the attack.Police officials said that at least one suicide vest had been recovered, and bomb squad members were on the scene to dispose of the explosives. One wounded police officer was taken to a hospital near the site of the attack.
A social media account claiming to be associated with the Baluchistan Liberation Army, a separatist group in the sprawling and violent province of Baluchistan, said the group had claimed responsibility for the attack and that it had been aimed at the Chinese Consulate. Separate confirmation was not immediately available. A Twitter account associated with the Baluchistan Liberation Army, a separatist group in the sprawling and violent province of Baluchistan, said that three of its members had “embraced martyrdom” in an attack on the Chinese consulate.
In a video sent to an Indian news service in March, Aslam Baloch, a senior B.L.A. commander, accused China and Pakistan of plundering resources in Baluchistan, which his group wants to turn into an independent state.
The group claimed responsibility for an attack in August on a bus carrying Chinese mining workers in southwestern Pakistan near the country’s borders with Afghanistan and Iran. The suicide bomber died and the workers were slightly injured.
A deepwater port in the Baluchistan town of Gwadar, which is operated by a Chinese state-backed company, is part of China’s international development program, the Belt and Road Initiative. But locals have complained that the huge investment has done little to benefit their lives.
Amir Jan, a driver who was washing his car near the consulate, said he saw three men with Kalashnikov assault rifles move toward the consulate around 9:15 a.m. He said they threw a grenade and then opened fire.Amir Jan, a driver who was washing his car near the consulate, said he saw three men with Kalashnikov assault rifles move toward the consulate around 9:15 a.m. He said they threw a grenade and then opened fire.
The China News Service, a government-run news agency, said that the consul general, Wang Yu, and all other Chinese staff members were safe.
The neighborhood, near the Arabian Sea, is mostly residential and upscale, including many homes and restaurants. The gunfire could be heard from several miles away, and witnesses on social media posted photos of smoke rising into the air. Schools in the area were placed on lockdown.The neighborhood, near the Arabian Sea, is mostly residential and upscale, including many homes and restaurants. The gunfire could be heard from several miles away, and witnesses on social media posted photos of smoke rising into the air. Schools in the area were placed on lockdown.
Karachi, home to 15 million people, is Pakistan’s largest city and its economic powerhouse.Karachi, home to 15 million people, is Pakistan’s largest city and its economic powerhouse.
Pakistan has tightened its economic ties to China in recent years, with Beijing recently giving Pakistan a $2 billion loan to help shore up its finances, money that followed $1 billion that was given by Chinese banks in April.Pakistan has tightened its economic ties to China in recent years, with Beijing recently giving Pakistan a $2 billion loan to help shore up its finances, money that followed $1 billion that was given by Chinese banks in April.
China has called Pakistan a showcase for its sprawling, international development campaign, the Belt and Road Initiative. China is estimated to have spent some $62 billion on projects in Pakistan, mostly in the sprawling and violent Baluchistan Province. China has called Pakistan a showcase for its Belt and Road Initiative and is estimated to have spent some $62 billion on those projects there, mostly in Baluchistan.
But China has also come under increasing criticism in Pakistan, including over its treatment of ethnic Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region.But China has also come under increasing criticism in Pakistan, including over its treatment of ethnic Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region.
“A big international conspiracy has been foiled by prompt security action,” Faisal Vawda, a federal minister, told reporters in Karachi. “This was an attempt to sabotage our relations with China.”“A big international conspiracy has been foiled by prompt security action,” Faisal Vawda, a federal minister, told reporters in Karachi. “This was an attempt to sabotage our relations with China.”