Express Media Group's Karachi office comes under attack

FIR for the attack has been registered at the Baloch Colony police station.

KARACHI: Three people were wounded at the Express Media Group's Karachi  office on Monday when an attack utilising improvised bombs and heavy weapons was carried out by unknown assailants.

"Offices of the local Express newspaper and television channel were apparently the target of the attack, which wounded at least three people," senior local police official Nasir Aftab said.

The building contains staff of the Express News channel, Daily Express Urdu newspaper and The Express Tribune English newspaper.

It was not clear who was responsible for the attack or what the motive was. A local intelligence official also confirmed the incident.

Unidentified men had fired shots from the adjacent KPT Interchange, Express News reported. One car was badly damaged from the hail of bullets in the attack. CCTV footage shows two blasts outside the office followed by firing.

The FIR of the attack has been registered against unknown persons at the Baloch colony police station.

This is the second attack on the office in the space of four months. In the first attack on the Karachi office, a woman and a guard were injured after unknown assailants opened fire.

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1:20am

The FIR of the attack has been registered against unknown persons at the Baloch colony police station.

Express News correspondent Rehan Khan said that there was some dispute over which of the police stations' jurisdiction the building falls under because the Express Media Group office falls under the jurisdiction of the Baloch Colony Police Station and the KPT flyover, from where the attack was carried out, falls under the jurisdiction of the Korangi Police Station.

Eventually, the complaint against unknown persons, was registered at the Baloch Colony Police Station. The complaint also filed under anti-terrorism laws.

Police will also seek CCTV footage from Express Media group over the attack, having already collected evidence from the crime scene earlier in the evening.

DIG South Khalid Shaikh  has promised to catch the culprits soon.

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9:20pm

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting‚ Pervaiz Rashid has condemned the attack on Express News office in Karachi.

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8:40pm

Scenes from outside the Express office right now. The bridge from where the attack took place is visible.

PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS

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8:20pm

Unidentified men had fired shots from the adjacent KPT Interchange, Express News reported.

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8:13pm

One car was badly damaged from the hail of bullets in the attack.

CCTV footage of attack:



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8:05pm

Tribune staffers tweet about the incident:

Grenades were hurled from the KPT flyover overlooking the offices of Express Media Group - landed near guards post

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) December 2, 2013

https://twitter.com/jhaque_/status/407525690255622144

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7:50pm

Altaf Hussain makes a statement on television about the attack on Express Tribune's office.

"I strongly condemn the attack," he says, sharing his concern about those injured in the attack.

It is the obligation of the government to ensure the safety of the people, he adds in his statement.

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7:44pm

CCTV footage shows two blasts outside the office followed by firing.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South, three have been injured in the attack.

https://twitter.com/jhaque_/status/407516262378381314

Grenade attack at the Express News office.2 guards injured.this is insane. #media #Pakistan

— Sarah O. Munir (@SarahMunir1) December 2, 2013

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7:30pm

Express News reports that two were injured.

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7:23pm

One guard is injured in the attack.

The police is yet to arrive on the scene.

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Live tweets

Tribune staffers live tweet about the attack:

https://twitter.com/jhaque_/status/407514772926910464

2 huge explosions heard outside work

— Essa Malik (@Yeezus_Chwist) December 2, 2013

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