Karachi police 'foil Taliban terror attacks'

KARACHI: Capital City Police said they arrested a would-be suicide bomber and two of his handlers on Friday who were planning "terror attacks" in the prosperous financial hub Karachi.

"We have arrested three militants, Alam Zaib, Hasandar Sheena and Inaamur Rehman from Orangi neighbourhood on a tip-off today," Karachi police chief Saud Mirza said at a press conference.

"They were members of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's cell in Swat being run by Abu Mansoor."

Mirza said the three militants had shifted to Karachi after a military swoop in the Swat valley.

"They would conduct robberies and kill people whom they suspected to have links with security agencies in Karachi and transfer the booty to their comrades in the northwest," Mirza said.

Alam Zaib and Hasan Dar had "prepared" Inaamur Rehman to conduct a suicide bombing in the sprawling port city, police said.

"They had their would-be suicide bomber and were waiting for a go-ahead signal from their superiors in the terrorist outfit," Mirza said.

Karachi is Pakistan's economic hub, home to its stock exchange and a lifeline for a depressed economy wilting under inflation and stagnating foreign investment. (AFP)