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Karachi airport attack: Five killed as gunmen attack terminal, officials say Karachi airport attack: At least nine dead as militants storm VIPs’ airport terminal
(about 1 hour later)
Gunmen have stormed an airport terminal used for VIPs and cargo in Pakistan's largest city, killing five people and wounding another, officials said. Up to 10 men armed with guns and grenades stormed an airport terminal used for VIPs in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, on Sunday night, starting a fire and killing at least nine people.
The attack was continuing in Karachi, a sprawling port city on the southern coast of Pakistan. Gunfire could be heard coming from the terminal as authorities scrambled to secure the area. Gunfire could be heard coming from Jinnah International Airport in the early hours of Monday [in Karachi] when the attack was ongoing.
Five bodies were brought from the airport to Jinnah Hospital, with one person who had been wounded, said Dr Seemi Jamali at the hospital. It came amid reports that at least 23 Shia pilgrims were killed on Sunday night in an attack on the border of Pakistan and Iran. Officials told the Hindustan Times that the pilgrims’ bus was attacked in Taftan, Pakistan, by suicide bombers and gunmen as it returned from visiting Muslim holy sites in Iran.
Gunmen attacked the terminal late on Sunday, said Shaukat Jamal, a spokesman for the Airport Security Force. Pakistani television stations aired footage of what appeared to be a major fire at the airport, with the silhouette of a jet seen. Nearly 1,000 Shia Muslims, who make up about 20 per cent of the country’s population, have been killed in Pakistan in the past two years.
The Pakistani military were called in and police were fighting the attackers. In Karachi, television stations showed footage of what appeared to be a large fire at the airport. The flames appeared to be almost surrounding one passenger jet. It was unclear if anyone was on board.
The attack happened at a terminal not generally used for commercial flights but for special VIP flights and for cargo. Flights were being diverted to other cities.
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. Shaukat Jamal, a spokesman for the Airport Security Force, said the Pakistani military had been called in and that police were fighting the attackers.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The attack happened at a terminal not generally used for commercial flights but for special VIP flights and  for cargo.
Pakistan's government has been trying to negotiate a peace deal with militants mostly based in the northwest who have been waging war against the government. But the talks have had little success, raising fears that the militants will increase attacks across the country. Karachi 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 would be likely to strike a heavy blow at foreign investment in the country.
PA There was no immediate claim of responsibility for  the attack.