Police raided a militant hide-out in southern Pakistan, triggering a gun battle during which three suicide bombers blew themselves up along with a handcuffed prisoner, AP quoted officials as saying. Meanwhile, a bomb blast caused a train to derail in eastern Punjab province, killing four people and wounding 15 others, authorities said. The prime minister said he had ordered an investigation into the blast. The three militants who died in the raid in Karachi were suspected of planning an attack on a «high-profile» target in the city, said Sindh police Chief Babar Khattak, who gave no more details. «Police definitely averted a big attack from happening in this city,» he said. Police seized at least 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of explosives, two suicide jackets, seven pistols and 12 hand grenades from the Karachi house, which was badly damaged by the explosions. Meanwhile, a government official said at least 11 militants were killed Friday and another 16 wounded in ongoing clashes between security forces and militants in the Bajur tribal region.
