KARACHI: Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested from Karachi an Afghanistan-trained militant who was planning to carry out a terror act at the Kamra airbase in Punjab.

Counter-Terrorism Department SSP Junaid Ahmed Shaikh said police arrested Umer Hayat alias Darvesh from MPR Colony, Orangi, on a tip off. He said the suspect was associated with Tehreek-i-Imarat Islamia, Afghanistan.

Speaking at press conference at his office, the SSP said the held suspect is also a suicide bomber who had allegedly trained two suicide bombers identified as Raz Mohammed and Taj Mohammed.

“The purported suicide bombers had been sent to Punjab to carry out a terror act at the Kamra airbase,” said the official.

“But they failed due to extensive security arrangements there and returned back to Karachi.”

The suspect was also planning to carry out terror attacks on Eidgahs in Karachi during Eidul Azha, in addition to planning attacks on military installations in the metropolis.

“He is an expert in preparing suicide jackets and brainwashing suicide bombers,” said the CTD officer.

The held suspect received training from Afghanistan and also fought there, said the officer, adding that he was also allegedly involved in deadly terror acts against law enforcers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“He basically hailed from KP and came to Karachi after the devastating earthquake in 2005.”

The SSP said the suspect’s team consisted of 50 members.

“He has given names of seven hardcore militants and forces are carrying out operations to arrest them to foil their nefarious designs,” said the police officer.