A security guard was martyred and two terrorists were killed in a gunbattle which followed an early morning suicide attack on a vehicle carrying foreigners in Karachi on Friday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A police team escorting the foreign nationals foiled the terrorist attack in Mansehra Colony of Landhi, with all the guests remained unhurt.

A heavy contingent of Rangers and police led by SSP Malir Tariq Mastoi rushed to the attack site and cordoned off the whole area, launching an operation to hunt down the attackers.

The security personnel also seized a bag full of grenades and Kalashnikovs from the scene.

Japanese nationals escape suicide hit

Five Japanese nationals escaped a suicide attack on their vehicle in Karachi on Friday as police shot dead a gunman accompanying the bomber, officials confirmed.

"It was a targeted attack, five Japanese officials were on their way to the export processing zone as per their routine," Abrar Hussain, a Karachi police spokesperson, told AFP. "The suicide bomber died detonating the bomb, while the second one was killed in crossfire."

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said "one Japanese national was confirmed injured".

Japan has "issued an alert to Japanese nationals living in Pakistan in response to the incident," he added.

Bomb-and-gun attack

A police spokesman at SSP Malir Office informed that the unidentified terrorists also resorted to firing on the van carrying five foreign nationals.

The spokesman said the vehicle was being used to pick and drop foreigners to their office. He said there were also three injured in the incident who were shifted to Jinnah Hospital for treatment.

Three people including two security guards were also injured in the attack. The two injured guards were identified as Noor Muhammad and Langar Khan. Later, one of the injured security guards who was under treatment at Jinnah Hospital succumbed to his injuries.

A policeman who was deployed at nearby Attock petrol pump said that they heard an explosion and later bullets were also fired. “We rushed to the site and saw a terrorist holding a rifle with two magazines and a bag full of grenades. He opened firing at us, we retaliated and shot him dead,” he added.

Later talking to the media men, SSP Malir Tariq Mastoi said only one vehicle was targeted in the attack. “Total three terrorists were involved and one of them was a suicide-bomber riding a motorcycle,” he added.

The SSP said one terrorist blown himself up while the other was shot dead by the policemen and the third managed to escape.

Tariq Mastoi said all the foreigners remained unhurt in the attack. “The foreigners pass through this area daily on their way to export processing zone,” he added.

Jinnah Hospital Emergency Incharge Dr Nosheen said two of the three injured were security guards while the third was a passerby. The condition of 43-year-old Noor Muhammad is very serious, she added.

Dr Nosheen said the injured will be shifted to neurosurgery ward after preliminary medical treatment. Details about the wounds will be made public after medico-legal procedure, she added.

Dr Nosheen made it clear that there was no foreigner among the injured.

Sindh CM Murad seeks report

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the inspector general of police to submit a report after investigating the attack, including details on who the terrorists were, where they came from, any information on their facilitators and details of explosives used in the blast.

The chief minister directed that immediate arrangements be made for the security of the foreign nationals. “Anti-national elements want to disrupt law and order, which will not be allowed at any cost,” Murad said while commending the timely action of the police.

Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon strongly condemned the attack. “The timely action of the police has foiled the ambitions of the terrorists,” Memon said in a statement.

“The nefarious actions of the terrorists will not be allowed to succeed,” he added.

President, PM condemn suicide blast, firing

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned suicide blast and firing in Landhi area of Karachi on Friday morning.

In his statement, President Zardari praised police's timely action against the terrorists, saying the timely action of the police prevented major casualties. He expressed the firm commitment to collectively wipe out the terrorists.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his statement, prayed for early recovery of the injured and directed the authorities concerned to provide best possible medical facilities.

Shehbaz Sharif said the government will foil all nefarious designs to disrupt law and order situation.

Friday’s incident comes less than a month after five Chinese nationals and one Pakistani were killed in a suicide bombing in Bisham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to police, the bus was travelling from Islamabad to Kohistan when it came under the attack on Karakoram Highway.

Reporters Anusha Jaffery, Salman Salim, Ajiz Jamali, Muhammad Hammad, Khurshid Rahmani and Awais Kiyani