Pakistan Stock Exchange attack
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| 2020 Pakistan Stock Exchange attack | |
|---|---|
| Location | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Date | 29 June 2020 10:00 am |
| Target | Pakistan Stock Exchange |
Attack type | Mass shooting, grenades |
| Deaths | 3 (+4) |
| Injured | 7 |
| Perpetrators | Balochistan Liberation Army (claimed) |
On 29 June 2020, terrorists attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) building in Karachi with grenades and by firing indiscriminately. At least two security guards and a police sub-inspector were killed, while seven people were injured during the attack. Police reported that they killed all four attackers.[1][2][3][4]
Attack
On 29 June 2020, at 10:02 in the morning, a car carrying the attackers arrived at the Pakistan Stock Exchange on I. I. Chundrigar Road. By 10:10 am, all four attackers were killed by security forces, according to Director General Sindh Rangers.[5] Once the attack was thwarted, security personnel carried out a clearance operation and normalcy was restored to the locality within 30-35 minutes.[5]
Terrorists armed with automatic rifles threw a grenade and then began firing at a security post outside the stock exchange. "They had come in a silver Corolla car," Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon later told Reuters.[6]
Guards fought back, killing all four attackers, the authorities say, but police officers and security personnel are among the casualties. The stock exchange director, Abid Ali Habib, said the gunmen made their way from the car park and "opened fire on everyone". Reports say most people managed to escape or hide in locked rooms. Those inside the building were evacuated from the back door, Geo TV reported.[3]
One police officer and two security guards were among the casualties. Three policemen, two security guards and a stock exchange employee were injured in the attack.[7] The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital.[3] Four bags were recovered from the scene which included four SMGs, hand grenades, weapons, water bottles and dates.[7]
The PSX did not halt trading during the attack.[5][8]
Investigation
According to Raja Umar Khattab of Counter Terrorism Department, the car was registered in the name of one of the attackers, who was a resident of Balochistan. The car was clear as per the police record.[9]
DG Rangers Sindh Major General Umar Bukhari said in a press conference that the "attack was not possible without the help of foreign intelligence agency".[10] According to the investigators, the mastermind of the attack is Bashir Zeb, who is hiding in Afghanistan.[11]
Responsibility
Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) spokesman took responsibility for the attack through a Twitter account.[12] The spokesman also said that all the terrorists were suicide attackers.[13] However, the BLA spokesman claims could not be confirmed, and his twitter account was soon suspended.[14] BLA is a global terrorist organisation operating mainly from its bases in Afghanistan.[15] In the past, BLA leadership has visited and stayed in India to seek medical treatment.[16] Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that India is activating sleeper cells in order to disrupt the peace in Pakistan.[17]
References
- ^ "Pakistan stock exchange in Karachi under attack, say police". The National. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Gunmen attack Karachi stock exchange building in Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "'All terrorists killed,' police say after Pakistan Stock Exchange comes under gun and grenade attack". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ CNN, Sophia Saifi. "Multiple people dead after attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange". CNN. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ a b c "All 4 terrorists killed in attempt to storm Pakistan Stock Exchange compound in Karachi: Rangers". Dawn. 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Gunmen attack Pakistani stock exchange, six killed: police". Reuters. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Karachi stock exchange attack: Sindh Rangers say four terrorists killed". Samaa TV.
- ^ "Seven killed in gun attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange". The Express Tribune.
- ^ "کراچی میں پاکستان اسٹاک ایکسچینج پر حملہ ناکام، تمام دہشتگرد مارے گئے". urdu.geo.tv. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Mastermind of attack on PSX identified". Dunya News. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Security forces foil attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange, all four terrorists killed". Dunya News. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Deadly gun attack on Pakistan stock exchange". BBC News. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ Pakistan stock exchange attack: Baloch Liberation Army takes responsibility, 4 terrorists killed, 29 June 2020, India Today
- ^ Gunmen storm stock exchange in Pakistan’s commercial capital; attack foiled, 29 June 2020, The Washington Post
- ^ Pakistan Stock Exchange comes under terror attack, 29 June 2020, Outlook India
- ^ "Who are Baloch Liberation Army? Insurgents who killed 30 in Pakistan in last one week". ThePrint.
- ^ "Armed men attack Pakistan stock exchange". The Guardian.