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Taliban
gunmen disguised as police guards attacked a terminal at Pakistan's
busiest airport Sunday with machine-guns and a rocket launcher during a
five-hour siege that killed 18 people as explosions echoed into the
night, officials said.
Updated
Pakistan's Karachi airport attacked by Taliban gunmen, 18 dead
Pakistan's Taliban claim attack was revenge for air strikes near the Afghan border
The Associated Press
Posted: Jun 08, 2014 3:58 PM ET
Last Updated: Jun 09, 2014 1:45 AM ET
Pakistan's Taliban has claimed responsibility for the
co-ordinated attack on the country's largest airport, saying it was
revenge for the army's air strikes on tribal regions near the border
with Afghanistan, where the Taliban's leadership is known to operate.
(Shakil Adil/Associated Press)
Taliban gunmen disguised as police guards attacked a terminal at
Pakistan's busiest airport Sunday with machine-guns and a rocket
launcher during a five-hour siege that killed 18 people as explosions
echoed into the night, officials said.
"We carried out this attack on the Karachi airport and it 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," said Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman.
The airport attack began late Sunday and continued on into the dawn hours of Monday in Karachi, a sprawling port city on Pakistan's southern coast, although officials said all the passengers had been evacuated.
During the course of the attack, heavy gunfire and multiple explosions could be heard coming from the terminal, used for
VIP
flights and cargo, as militants and security forces battled for
control. A major fire rose from the airport, illuminating the night sky
in an orange glow as the silhouettes of jets could be seen.
The deadly operation was carried out by 10 militants, said the Chief Minister of Sindh province, Qaim Ali Shah.
"They were well trained. Their plan was very well thought out," he told reporters. He said they intended to destroy some of the aircraft and buildings but were not able to.
The spokesman for the Pakistani military, Gen. Asim Bajwa, said on Twitter that no aircraft were damaged and that as a precautionary measure, security forces were sweeping the airport before operations would be returned to the Civil Aviation Authority and airport police.
The official described himself as being with one of the country's intelligence agencies but declined to give his name.
After storming into the airport grounds, gunmen took shelter in two sections of the airport, said senior police officer Ghulam Qadir Thebo.
Authorities seized four machine-guns and a rocket launcher, Thebo said. He said the billowing smoke and flames was from oil that had caught fire.
Dr.
Seemi Jamali from Jinnah Hospital in Karachi said 11 bodies had been
brought to the hospital from the fighting. She said nine were Airport
Security Force personnel, one was a member of the paramilitary Rangers,
one was from the police, one was an employee of the Civil Aviation
Authority and another was from the state-run Pakistan International
Airlines.
Sarmad Hussain, a PIA employee, told The Associated Press he was at the airport at the time of the attack.
"I was working at my office when I heard big blasts — several blasts — and then there were heavy gunshots," Hussain said. He said he and a colleague jumped out of a window to get away, and his colleague broke his leg.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and has been the site of frequent militant attacks in the past. It is the country's economic heart and any militant activity targeting the airport likely would strike a heavy blow at foreign investment in the country.
In May 2011, militants waged an 18-hour siege at a naval base in
Karachi, killing 10 people in an assault that deeply embarrassed the
armed forces.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday night's attack. Pakistan's government has been trying to negotiate a peace deal with local Taliban fighters and other militants mostly based in the northwest who have been waging war against the government. But the talks have had little success, raising fears of a backlash of attacks across the country.
Security officials in Karachi had feared that if the talks broke down, their city would be a likely spot for any militant retribution. The Pakistani Taliban and their allies increasingly are gaining a foothold in Karachi.
border, said Baluchistan province Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti. One
bomber was killed by security officials travelling with the pilgrims,
but the other three managed to get inside the hotel where they blew
themselves up in an attack that also wounded 10 people, he said.
It wasn't immediately clear whether there was a connection between
the airport assault and the Baluchistan attack. But the attacks were
sadly familiar for Pakistan, which has seen thousands killed by
militants in recent years.
Shahid Ali, who dropped his mother and father off at the airport prior to the attack, said they were onboard a flight when the attack began. Ali said the flight, heading to Iraq, later returned to the terminal without being told what was going on. He said his parents joined other passengers waiting in a lounge.
He said his parents were not panicked.
"We are used to this," Ali told the AP.
end quote from:
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"We carried out this attack on the Karachi airport and it 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," said Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman.
The airport attack began late Sunday and continued on into the dawn hours of Monday in Karachi, a sprawling port city on Pakistan's southern coast, although officials said all the passengers had been evacuated.
During the course of the attack, heavy gunfire and multiple explosions could be heard coming from the terminal, used for
A
Pakistani paramilitary group claimed Monday that the group of Taliban
insurgents that attacked the airport was made up mostly of foreign
fighters, including extremists from Uzbekistan. (Athar Hussain/Reuters)
"They were well trained. Their plan was very well thought out," he told reporters. He said they intended to destroy some of the aircraft and buildings but were not able to.
The spokesman for the Pakistani military, Gen. Asim Bajwa, said on Twitter that no aircraft were damaged and that as a precautionary measure, security forces were sweeping the airport before operations would be returned to the Civil Aviation Authority and airport police.
Gunmen strapped with explosives
At least some of the gunmen wore the uniforms of the Airport Security Force that protects the nation's airports, said an official who briefed journalists near the airport. He said all were strapped with explosives. He said one of them tried to capture a vehicle used by the Civil Aviation Authority and when a guard shot at him, the explosives strapped to his body went off. The official said another attacker also blew up after being shot at by security forces.The official described himself as being with one of the country's intelligence agencies but declined to give his name.
After storming into the airport grounds, gunmen took shelter in two sections of the airport, said senior police officer Ghulam Qadir Thebo.
'The blast you heard a little while ago was when our police party went to pick up a body (and) one of the attackers blew himself up.'- Senior police officer Ghulam Qadir Thebo"The blast you heard a little while ago was when our police party went to pick up a body (and) one of the attackers blew himself up," Thebo said
Authorities seized four machine-guns and a rocket launcher, Thebo said. He said the billowing smoke and flames was from oil that had caught fire.
Pakistan
army troops arrive at Karachi airport following an attack by unknown
gunmen disguised as police guards who stormed a terminal used for VIPs
and cargo, Sunday night n Pakistan. (Fareed Khan/The Associated Press)
Airport remains closed
Authorities diverted incoming flights and suspended all flight operations. A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said the airport would be closed until at least Monday night.Sarmad Hussain, a PIA employee, told The Associated Press he was at the airport at the time of the attack.
"I was working at my office when I heard big blasts — several blasts — and then there were heavy gunshots," Hussain said. He said he and a colleague jumped out of a window to get away, and his colleague broke his leg.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and has been the site of frequent militant attacks in the past. It is the country's economic heart and any militant activity targeting the airport likely would strike a heavy blow at foreign investment in the country.
Fire
illuminates the sky above a Karachi airport terminal where security
forces fought with attackers early Monday morning. (Shakil
Adil/Associated Press)
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday night's attack. Pakistan's government has been trying to negotiate a peace deal with local Taliban fighters and other militants mostly based in the northwest who have been waging war against the government. But the talks have had little success, raising fears of a backlash of attacks across the country.
Security officials in Karachi had feared that if the talks broke down, their city would be a likely spot for any militant retribution. The Pakistani Taliban and their allies increasingly are gaining a foothold in Karachi.
'We are used to this'
In the suicide bombing, four bombers targeted Shia pilgrims staying at a hotel in the town of Tuftan near the Iranian
1 of 5
Shahid Ali, who dropped his mother and father off at the airport prior to the attack, said they were onboard a flight when the attack began. Ali said the flight, heading to Iraq, later returned to the terminal without being told what was going on. He said his parents joined other passengers waiting in a lounge.
He said his parents were not panicked.
"We are used to this," Ali told the AP.
end quote from:
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