SSP Rao Anwar survives ‘suicide attack’ in Karachi

The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claims responsibility for the attack

KARACHI: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack on SSP Rao Anwar who had survived a suicide attack late clTuesday night in Karachi.

"A suicide bomber hit his motorcycle with my armoured vehicle when my convoy reached Malir Cantt area via a link road. He blew himself up after he fell down on the road," SSP Rao Anwar told reporters after the incident.

"His accomplices then opened fire on my convoy. My jawans retaliated from inside the APC [armoured personnel carrier] and killed the two attackers," he added.

A few militants also reportedly managed to escape under the cover of fire while the police and Rangers were busy in conducting search operation in the area.

After the attack, extra contingent of police and Rangers reached the site, cordoned off the area and collected evidence. Experts from the bomb disposal squad also reached the site, where media was not allowed to enter.

Police said at least three militants ambushed the convoy. They said militants of different extremist outfits might be behind the attack. Later, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal phoned Anwar and inquired after his health. He also sought a report on the incident from DIG East.

The SSP, who is posted in District Malir for around six years, in various encounters has killed over 150 militants of various banned outfits including Dai'sh, Taliban, al-Qaeda, Jamaatul Ahrar and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.  The police officer has faced similar attempts on his life in the past as well.

In 2012, five people were killed and several others were injured when Anwar's ACP came under attack in a bomb blast while he was making his way to the Malir court.

In 2015, his convoy came under attack outside his house in Malir Cantt. All policemen, travelling in the convoy, had remained unhurt but all the attackers were killed in retaliatory fire.