KARACHI: The Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Karachi, has foiled plans for major terrorist activities in the city by capturing six militants belonging to al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from an inn in Sohrab Goth, sources said on Friday.

During a raid on a tip-off, five suicide bombing jackets, more than 10 kilogrammes of C-4 explosive material, several guns, a large quantity of ammunition and electronic items were also recovered, the sources added.

There were reports that after the military operation in Swat, Buner and Dir, the militants, belonging to al-Qaeda and the TTP, came to Karachi to disturb the peaceful environment of the city by launching suicide attacks on Ulema, Imambargahs, important installations and killing personnel belonging to the Karachi Police and intelligence agencies.

The sources said Capital City Police Officer Waseem Ahmed, taking note of the presence of militants in the city, directed SSP Raja Omer Khattab of the SIU Karachi to dismantle the network of terrorists.

Intelligence sources said during the investigation, SSP Khattab was tipped off that the militants were present at an inn near a petrol pump situated near New Sabzi Mandi, Sohrab Goth. The police raided the area and after a brief encounter arrested Abu Huzefa, Hafiz Saeed, Haris and others.

The militants were shifted to an unknown location for interrogation. During the course of investigation, it was uncovered that the militants belonged to al-Qaeda and the TTP and had received training in Afghanistan to carry out bombings and other terrorist acts.

The intelligence sources said after the military operation in Swat and elsewhere, the militants, belonging to various outfits, came to Karachi from South Waziristan, Swat, Miranshah and Buner. They were directed to generate funds for organisations fighting in the tribal areas by robbing banks, moneychangers, jewellery markets and kidnapping millionaire businessmen for ransom.

They added the police found a list of Ulema who were on their hit list. The militants had gathered information about the Ulema and their addresses. The police also found a list of police officers who were to be their targets — SSP Mohammad Farooq Awan, SSP Raja Omar Khattab, SSP Khurram Waris, SSP Mohammad Fayyaz Khan, DSP Chaudhry Amir Hameed, DSP Chaudhry Safdar and others.

The militants had also gathered information about addresses and vehicles of officers belonging to the Sindh Police and intelligence agencies, as they had made a crackdown against their organisations in the past. Senior police officials will hold a press conference in a few days to announce details obtained during the investigation.