ISLAMABAD, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Five terrorists belonging to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) were killed in an operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said on Thursday.
The operation was conducted at a compound near Shamshato, a large refugee camp 25 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital Peshawar, following intelligence about the presence of terrorists, the CTD said in a statement.
The terrorists opened fire on CTD personnel during the operation, triggering an exchange of fire in which all five were killed, the statement said.
The slain terrorists were allegedly planning major attacks, including bombings targeting sensitive institutions, mosques and churches.
They were also involved in suicide bombings, target killings and other terrorist activities.
Security personnel recovered a submachine gun, four pistols, two hand grenades, an improvised explosive device and ammunition from the compound.
A search and clearance operation was continuing in the area, the CTD said. ■