US urges citizens to 'exercise caution' after Karachi terror attack

Embassy asks its citizens to avoid the affected area and notify friends and family of their safety

Following a terrorist attack at the Karachi police office, the United States has urged its citizens to "exercise increased caution", asking them to avoid the affected area.

At least six heavily armed terrorists stormed into a police compound on Karachi's main Sharea Faisal thoroughfare on Friday evening, killing at least four people amid gunfire and explosions.

Police and security forces, including paramilitary soldiers, had launched an operation to eliminate the terrorists and clear the building.

Read more: PM Shehbaz condemns Karachi terrorist attack, calls for 'collective action'

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) took responsibility for the attack in a message sent by their spokesman to journalists, according to Reuters.

"The US Embassy is monitoring the attack at the Central Police Office in the Sadar Section of Karachi, Pakistan. Local authorities are on the scene," US Embassy Islamabad said on its official Twitter handle.

The U.S. Embassy is monitoring the attack at the Central Police Office in the Sadar Section of Karachi, Pakistan. Local authorities are on the scene. We ask U.S. citizens to exercise heightened caution, avoid the area, and notify friends and family of your safety. https://t.co/I4YGUPkWRd

— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) February 17, 2023

"We ask US citizens to exercise heightened caution, avoid the area, and notify friends and family of your safety," it added.

Consul General of Germany Dr Rüdiger Lotz also condemned the terrorist attack. He offered his heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives combating the terrorists and wished a quick recovery for the injured.

Germany, he said, stands with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.