Police uncover `al Qaeda network` in Karachi varsity

Karachi: Pakistani police on Friday claimed they had uncovered an al Qaeda network in the University of Karachi by arresting three persons involved in terrorist activities and distributing jihadi propaganda and literature.

CID official Raja Umar Khatab said all the arrested persons were students of the university. The network was responsible for targeted killings, bomb attacks and other terrorist activities, he said. "There is an al Qaeda network operating in the university which includes students and some professors. Laboratories were being used to create explosive materials," he told a news conference. "We have recovered plenty of al Qaeda literature, emails, weapons and explosive materials from their possession," Khatab said. The network operated under the codename "Ahsab". Police and paramilitary personnel also busted a weapons and bomb-making factory at Orangi Town in Karachi late last night. Police had earlier displayed a large cache of weapons, ammunition, explosive devices and materials, suicide jackets and rocket launchers seized from the factory. "Explosive devices used in recent attacks in Karachi were prepared and provided from this factory," Khatab said.