ISLAMABAD, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Six suspected terrorists were killed in an encounter during a raid at the suspects' hideout, police in the Pakistani port city of Karachi said Thursday.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar said police along with intelligence officials conducted the raid on a tip-off about the presence of the terrorists in Sachal area of Karachi, the capital of the country's southern Sindh province.
"All six of the terrorists were killed in retaliatory firing after they opened fire on the raiding team," Anwar said.
Those killed belonged to the banned terror outfits Al-Qaida and IS, he said, adding that they were planning a terrorist activity during Ashura, the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, which commenced in the country on Sept. 22.
One of the killed terrorists was an engineer and expert in drone technology and has made several improvised explosive devices which were used in various attacks.
"They were under our surveillance for the past few days, but police have to conduct the operation on an emergency basis as they could have moved soon," the senior cop said.
Police also claimed to have recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, six rocket grenades and explosives from their hideouts.
Security measures have been beefed up across the country to avoid any untoward incidents during the holy month of Muharram.
