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Karachi, Jun 29 (PTI): Four heavily armed militants attacked the busy Pakistan Stock Exchange building here with guns and grenades on Monday morning, killing four security guards and a police officer before being shot dead in an exchange of fire, authorities said.
The militants, who arrived in a car, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed hand grenades at the main gate of the multi-storey building situated in a high-security zone as they tried to storm it, Geo News reported.
Four security guards and a police sub-inspector were killed as they foiled their attempt to enter the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) compound on Karachi's I.I. Chundrigar Road, also known as Pakistan's Wall Street, Geo News reported.
One civilian was also killed.
The police and Rangers' officials arrived at the scene and killed all the four terrorists near the entrance gates, Sindh Rangers said.
AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, magazines and other explosive material have been recovered, the police said, adding that the equipment indicated that they had come for a long siege.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) linked Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. It was also behind the Pearl Continental hotel attack in Gwadar last year in which eight people were killed.
Senior Police official Sharjeel Kharal said that the attackers were armed with automatic weapons and came with a mission to create a hostage situation.
Several people, including three policemen, have been injured in the incident.
Additional Inspector-General (IG) Sindh Ghulam Nabbi Memon said that the attackers came in a Corolla car and were stopped at the gate. They exchanged fire with security guards and two attackers were killed.
He said that two other terrorists succeeded in entering the gate but were engaged in the compound of the building and were killed.
None of the militants entered the main building, Memon said.
According to Geo News, the stock exchange was operational and trading was going on despite the attack.
The firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.
The building and surrounding areas have been sealed and people were evacuated from the back door.
According to the police, the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and bags of explosives, were reportedly wearing clothes usually worn by police officials while they are off-duty.
"An unfortunate incident took place at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. They (militants) made their way from our parking area and opened fire on everyone," Abid Ali Habib, Director Pakistan Stock Exchange, said.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah condemned the attack and said that it was "akin to an attack on national security and economy".
"Anti-state elements want to take advantage of the virus situation," he said.
Sindh province Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident.
"Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG and security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive and their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs," he said on Twitter.