Paramilitary soldiers stand guard as rescue workers move the body of a man who blew himself up as police officials were conducting a search operation to counter the ongoing violence in Karachi on Friday. – Photo by Reuters

KARACHI: A suspected militant who blew himself up in Karachi during a raid by security forces was carrying a US and a Pakistani passport, authorities said on Saturday.

According to a statement by Pakistan’s paramilitary Rangers, the dead man has been identified as Moeed Abdul Salam.

He detonated an explosive device on Thursday when troops raided his apartment in Gulistan-e-Johar.

Post-mortem tests on Salam’s body confirmed the man died due to the explosion of a hand grenade, it said, adding ”documents used for acts of terrorism were also recovered” from his possession.

The US Embassy could not immediately confirm the development.

The Rangers’ statement said Salam had divorced his wife a month ago and was living with four children, who were unharmed. According to Salam’s passport, he had traveled to many countries, the statement said.

Karachi is home to around 18 million people and is the capital of Sindh province. Several al Qaeda and Taliban operatives have been captured or killed there in recent years.