Islamabad: Amidst tight security measures on the first anniversary of September 11 terror attacks, three militants were killed and five captured after an encounter with police as the ultras took over a residential building in a posh Karachi locality on September 11.

A four-year-old child was also killed in the crossfire. "Three militants and a child were killed in heavy exchange of firing with police, six police men were injured in the three hour shoot out," official sources said.

At least five armed men have been arrested, a news agency said quoting the inspector general of police, Sindh Kamal Shah. "So far terrorists have been not identified and nothing can be said about their nationality," he said.

He said that police stormed the fourth floor of the apartment where the militants were holed up. On seeing the police, they opened fire. Three of the militants were killed in the ensuing three-hour long gun battle.

Five injured militants along with a woman who was living with them has been arrested, Shah said, adding that the militants were armed with Kalashinkov, pistol and hand grenade.

Reports from Karachi, however, said that the slain militant was an Yemeni national.

The militants attacked the three-storey apartment block housing six flats in Karachi's posh Defence colony locality where several foreign businessmen live at around 10:00 hours (local time) and tried to take residents as hostage.

The incident occurred in Karachi's posh Defence Colony locality where several foreign businessmen stay. Authorities had tightened security in the area on the first anniversary of terror attacks in the US last year.

PTI