Terrorism threat: Red Zone security put on high alert

Police confirmed operation was aimed at checking possible presence of suspicious or criminal elements in the area.

ISLAMABAD: Police officials in Islamabad launched a search operation on Monday targeting residential areas and colonies of government employees. A senior police officer confirmed that the operation was aimed at checking possible presence of suspicious or criminal elements in the area. Although the officer maintained the operation was a routine screening of the area, sources said it came following intelligence reports, shared with the police, about possible presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists’ facilitators in the government employees’ colonies. “The threat shared with the police indicated that TTP was planning to target sensitive locations in the Red Zone and this time they would use their contacts who might be present in the government colonies and establishments,” said a police official quoting the content of the intelligence intercept.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2012.