The Hindu : 7 Al-Qaeda suspects arrested in Karachi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 19, 2004

International

International

7 Al-Qaeda suspects arrested in Karachi

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 18. Pakistani authorities in the port city of Karachi have arrested seven Al-Qaeda suspects and confiscated weapons.

At least one of the seven is considered to be an important functionary of the Al-Qaeda. However the investigating agencies are tight lipped about identities of the detained. The detentions came in early morning raid, following a tip off, on a housing complex. According to Pakistan Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, among the arrested five were men and two women.

It is believed that two of the men were Egyptians, three were Afghans and the two women were Arabs.

Five hand grenades, four handguns, ammunition and maps of Afghanistan and Pakistan, were recovered from the arrested. The arrests follow stepped up operations in recent days in the tribal areas in Frontier in search of fugitives on the run from Afghanistan. Of course it is not for the first time that Pakistan has captured suspected Al-Qaeda operatives from Karachi.

The mega city housing a mixed population of 14 million is considered an ideal shelter for all kinds of elements.

Since it joined the U.S. led coalition against terrorism after 9/11 Pakistan has arrested more than 500 Al-Qaeda suspects over the past two years. Many have been handed over to the U.S. authorities.

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