Heavily armed terrorists stormed a well fortified Karachi airport in port city in Pakistan last evening. At least 28 people including 12 terrorists and many security officials were killed in the terror attack.

Islamabad, June 9/Nationalturk – In one of the deadliest and daring terrorist attack in Pakistan, a group of terrorists stormed a heavily guarded Karachi airport in port city last evening. At least 28 people including 12 terrorists and many security officials were killed in the terror attack.

A security official said over dozen terrorists armed with suicide vests, assault rifles,  grenades and rocket launchers managed their entry into the heavily guarded Karachi airport in Sindh province last evening.

He said the militants had entered through the Engineering Section of the Pakistan International Airlines near the airport’s old terminal. “They gunned down the Airport Security Force (ASF) man before entering”.

“The group of militants split in three groups and moved towards the place where aircrafts were lying or were being repaired,” he said adding the ASF men immediately swung into action and engaged the militants in the firefight.

He said in the meantime, police commandos and army soldiers and commandos were also called in to assist in operation to flush out the attackers.

“Top army, police, paramilitary and civil officials visited the airport and a control room was set up, where from operation was being monitored by senior army officer,” the official said.

Initial gunfight lasted for 6 hours

He said the gunfight between militants and security forces continued at three different places in the airport for nearly six hours. “Before the all-out operation against militants was launched, all civilians and passengers were rescued and taken to safer places”.

He said the gunfight and blasts between militants and security forces continued till early this morning during which 10 terrorists, 8 ASF men, 2 Rangers official, a police official and two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officials were killed”.

As the gunfight stopped, security forces searched the area for the militants and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition. “They declared the operation over and were about to hand over charge to civilian authorities, when gun shots were heard from one part of the airport”.

2 militants blew up today morning

“Two militants were still holed up and fired on the security men, who also returned the fire. A Rangers personal was injured in the firing. After finding themselves cordoned from all sides and no room to escape, both the terrorists blew themselves up,” a security official said.

He said their target was hanger but security forces managed to prevent them from going near the place and a major tragedy was averted.

Asked about final death count toll in the militant attack, a senior security official said 28 people were killed in the attack. “Among the dead include 12 terrorists, 8 ASF men, two paramilitary Rangers, one police officer and three PIA officials”.

He said 24 people have been injured in the attack and referred to different hospitals for specialised treatment.

“The combing and search operation in the area is going on. The flight operations in the airport may resume from this evening,” the official said.

TTP owns attack

Pakistan’s most notorious militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with whom Pakistan government was holding talks, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid called media houses in Pakistan capital and claimed responsibility for the attack.

“This attack was the revenge of killing of our leader Hakimullah Mehsud and brutal killings of the TTP’s prisoners  in jails,” he said.

“This attack is a message to the Pakistan government that we are still alive to react over the killings of innocent people in bomb attacks on their villages,” the TTP spokesman said.

He claimed that the attack was planned much earlier but had been postponed due to the peace talks.

Pakistan government, army and country’s politicians including those who have soft corner for TTP have strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

Write your comments and thoughts below

Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News