KARACHI: All five foreign nationals, who were travelling in a vehicle attacked by terrorists in Landhi's Mansehra Colony, were safe and shifted to an undisclosed location, police officials told a private TV channel on Friday.

DIG East Azfar Mahesar said that the attackers were on foot, as per preliminary investigation. He added that police recovered six hand grenades, an SMG, and three magazines from militants.

“The attackers also had two bottles of petrol. All the items were in a bag with the attackers,” said the police official.

The DIG said that a vehicle and a motorcycle nearby were damaged in the blast after the terrorist blew himself up.

A police mobile was parked at a nearby petrol pump which reached the spot after hearing the explosion, he said, adding that the personnel of the Sharafi Goth police station also confronted the terrorists.

The DIG East revealed that the attack was carried out at 6:50 am this morning.

The DIG further stated that there was a company vehicle with security guards as well behind the targeted one carrying the employees.

He added that the terrorists opened fire on the van, while the security guards behind the van retaliated the attack, shooting dead one of them in the head.

“One terrorist was killed in firing by security guards, while the other terrorist approached the van and blew himself up,” he said.

The police official said efforts will be made to identify the slain terrorist using his fingerprints.

He also revealed that the police were already on alert after having received security threats regarding foreigners in the city.

He added that a security plan for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and non-CPEC projects was prepared.

Earlier today after the attack, the police said that the vehicle was targeted in a suicide attack but it was thwarted as two terrorists were killed.

They added that the terrorists were on a bike when they carried out the attack with the police also finding a bag filled with grenades and Kalashnikov from the crime scene.

SSP Malir Tariq Mastoi confirmed that it was a suicide attack. The police official said that another vehicle was also damaged in the explosion.

Gunfire sounds were also heard, said the police.

As per initial reports shared by the police, the second terrorist killed in the encounter was also a suicide bomber. 

"A suicide jacket and a grenade are tied to the terrorist's body," they said, adding that a bomb disposal team is reaching the site of the attack.

Following the attack, the injured were being shifted to a nearby hospital, they added. Meanwhile, the nationality of the victims has not been ascertained so far.

The law enforcement agency also shared that the foreign nationals were working in the export processing zone.

A security guard, who was with the nationals and witnessed the incident, told Geo News that they had left Zamzama in two vehicles. He added that a loud explosion was then heard near Mansehra Colony.

"After the explosion, a terrorist was firing at the vehicle," the security guard said.