Four killed as separatist rebels attack Chinese consulate in Karachi

KARACHI: Four people were killed on Friday as members of a separatist rebel group attempted to storm the Chinese Consulate in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, police said.
Security forces killed all three gunmen before they could enter the consulate. The attackers belonged to the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for independence from the Pakistani state and opposed to Chinese projects in the restive southwestern Baluchistan province.
“The terrorists couldn’t enter the main building due to timely action by law enforcement agencies,” Karachi police chief Dr. Amir Ahmed Shaikh said. “We will clear the area shortly.”
He confirmed two policemen and three attackers were killed.
“The consulate staff are completely safe,” police official Salman Waheed told Arab News. “We have found explosives and hand grenades, whereas further search is underway.”
The army’s media wing, ISPR, said terrorists attempted to enter the consulate after the attack.
“Three terrorists killed, all Chinese safe, situation under control,” ISPR said.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that “security institutions saved Karachi from a big conspiracy today.” He vowed the government would investigate the incident.
The consulate is in an area considered to be the city’s Red Zone and is heavily guarded.
Twitter suspended the official account of the BLA hours after the attack

Four killed as separatist rebels attack Chinese consulate in Karachi