Suicide bomber blows himself up during police raid in Karachi

Police was conducting a raid in Kehkashan Society where the suspect Farhan alias 'Pehlwan' was believed to be in hiding

Two policemen were injured after a suspected al-Qaeda suicide bomber blew himself up following heavy exchange of fire with security forces during an early morning raid in Pakistan's biggest port city.

The suicide bomber detonated his explosive laden jacket when police, Rangers and intelligence officials swooped down on his hideout in a residential building in Malir's Rifa-i-Aaam Society.

According to Senior Superintendent Police Malir Rao Anwar they were conducting a raid in Kehkashan Society where the suspect Farhan alias 'Pehlwan' was believed to be in hiding.

"Farhan first exchanged fire with the raiding party and injured one policeman in the leg and one in the stomach. He also threw hand grenades one of which exploded before he blew himself up," Anwar said.

He said Farhan is suspected to be linked to the al-Qaeda and was involved in attacks on policemen and Rangers personnel.

"The weapon used by him has been sent to a forensics lab for inspection," he said.

Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and commercial centre, has long been plagued by political and ethnic violence and organised gang-wars.

The government launched 'Operation clean up' in October 2013 to "cleanse" the city of over 23.5 million people of "anti-social" elements.

Over 260 security personnel have been killed in encounters with militants and criminals since the operation started, while some 282 terrorists have also been killed.