Police in Karachi say five suspects have been arrested over an attempted robbery on the Shah Faisal Colony bridge. The arrests were announced after a viral video prompted an inquiry ordered by East DIG Dr Farrukh Ali.

KARACHI: Police on Tuesday said they had arrested five men allegedly linked to a recent attempted robbery on a bridge in Karachi’s Shah Faisal Colony.

The development came after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media, prompting East Deputy Inspector General Dr Farrukh Ali to order an inquiry, according to officials.

In the footage, motorists and commuters could be seen gathered on the bridge and complaining about what they described as 12 to 15 robbers carrying Kalashnikov rifles and openly looting travellers.

However, Malir police had said that no citizen was robbed during the incident because law enforcers reached the spot in time. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sharafi Goth police station, police said.

Police account of arrests

Speaking at a press conference at his office, Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police Fida Husain Janwari said the suspects had tried to stop vehicles on the Shah Faisal Colony bridge on April 11.

The arrested suspects obstructed the vehicles on Shah Faisal Colony bridge on April 11 with the intention of committing robbery, but fled when the people put up resistance and police arrived at the scene.

The SSP said police had now taken five suspects into custody in connection with the case.

The attempted robbery on the bridge had drawn attention after the video spread online, with commuters in the clip alleging that a large group of armed men had targeted travellers on the route.

Police, however, maintained that the suspects were unable to rob citizens at the bridge because of resistance from the public and the arrival of law enforcement personnel.

Additional allegation

SSP Janwari also said the same suspects were involved in another robbery incident.

The suspects were also involved in looting Rs500,000 cash from a cattle trader on April 16.

No further details were provided at the press conference about the arrests or the circumstances in which the suspects were taken into custody.

The case had gained public attention after the viral video raised concerns over armed criminal activity on the bridge in Shah Faisal Colony. Police said the inquiry had been initiated on the orders of East DIG Dr Farrukh Ali, while the arrests were announced by Korangi SSP Fida Husain Janwari on Tuesday.

The official version presented by police differs from the claims made by commuters in the viral video. While people seen in the footage complained that armed robbers were openly looting travellers, Malir police said no robbery of citizens took place because of timely police action.