LAHORE: At least five suspected terrorists affiliated with Al Qaeda’s Afzal Group were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nawab Town area late on Tuesday night.

A police team of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) conducted a raid at a house in Raiwind Road area after receiving credible intelligence, said a Lahore police spokesman.

“As soon as the police team reached the house, they came under fire by the terrorists, and in retaliatory action, the terrorists were killed,” stated the spokesman.

The suspected terrorists were identified as Khan Wahid of Peshawar, Nasir Iqbal of Sharqpur, Nadeem Iqbal of Sabzazar, Qari Saqib and Junaid Zahoor of Abbottabad.

The spokesman added that the terrorists were involved in attacking an army camp in Gujrat, killing nine people in separate incidents, attacking Kakul Military Academy and were also involved in targeting army officers in Peshawar.

“They were also involved in attacking Ahmadi places of worship, were involved in the kidnapping of Dr Warren Weinstein and two other foreigners working for NGOs,” said the police spokesman.

The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had declared Qari Saqib and Junaid Zahoor as proclaimed offenders in several terrorism related cases and had announced head money of Rs1.5 million on their arrest.

The police spokesman also gave details of arms and ammunition seized from the suspected terrorists, which included two AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, 10 hand grenades, timing devices and explosive materials for use in terror activities.

Law enforcement agencies in Punjab are launching a province-wide crackdown on terror suspects in the wake of the horrific Iqbal Park bombing earlier.