A violent shooting that broke out at the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi has claimed at least 5 lives according to the local officials.
The story is still a developing one as there are more moved to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Mohammad Azeem, who is an executive of a local charity organization, said that security personnel and policemen were among the victims of what the media has described as a terrorist attack.
Azeem explained that the situation was far from over, as military personnel and paratroopers are still very much present in the scene of the attack. Videos taken in Pakistan show barricades and security posted in front of the Pakistan Stock Exchange building.
Director the Pakistan Stock Exchange Abid Ali said that four armed men entered the building from the parking lot. Before they entered, they lobbed a grenade, and entered the building to shoot indiscriminately. Ali said that all four men were killed by the security officers present.
Ali said that all of the attackers were wearing police uniform when they attacked the building. Pakistani paramilitary commander Major General Oman Bukhari said that a terrorist organization that calls themselves the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed they were the attackers.
Bukhari said that the intelligence organizations are looking into the credibility of this claim. BLA has been known in Pakistan for their separatist objectives.
CNN explains that the BLA was formed 20 years ago by residents who believed the Pakistani government was unfairly monopolizing the various resources in Balochistan region, thus an insurgency organization that called for the region to claim independence from Pakistan.
A source from the BLA continued their claim over the attack, saying that a certain Majeed Brigade was responsible for their self-sacrificing attack on the stock exchange. Previously, BLA kidnapped and killed Chinese engineers who worked in the region.
The US government already recognized the BLA as a terrorist organization. Their choice of deciding to attack the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi was likely to send shockwaves since both the Stock Exchange building itself and the street it is on is heavily guarded.
We will continue to report on this story as more information regarding the victims and attackers surface. Be sure to follow us on Facebook until then, and share with us your thoughts on this story in the comments.
Replaced!