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'Gunfire resumes' at Karachi airport after deadly raid 'Gunfire resumes' at Karachi airport after deadly raid
(35 minutes later)
Gunfire has reportedly resumed at Pakistan's biggest airport after an attack by gunmen on Sunday, which left 23 people dead. Gunfire has reportedly resumed at Pakistan's biggest airport after an attack by gunmen that left at least 23 people dead on Sunday night.
Many of the dead worked at Karachi's international airport. Several people were wounded, including a policeman. The attack took place at a terminal used for cargo and VIP flights at Karachi's international airport. Many of those killed were airport staff.
The army earlier said it had retaken control of the building and that all 10 attackers had been killed. Fresh violence broke out hours after the army said it had retaken control and all 10 attackers had been killed.
Pakistan's Taliban say they carried out the assault. Karachi has been a target for many insurgent attacks. Pakistan's Taliban said they had carried out the assault.
"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," Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman, was quoted as saying by Reuters on Monday: "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."
The dead terminal staff were said to be mostly security guards from the Airport Security Force (ASF) but also airline workers. The dead terminal staff were said to be mostly security guards from the Airport Security Force (ASF) but also airline workers. At least 14 people were wounded.
The Chief Minister of Sindh province, Qaim Ali Shah said the attackers "were well trained". All flights are being diverted to other airports.
"Their plan was very well thought out," he said, adding that they failed to destroy some of the aircraft as they had intended. At the scene: Riaz Sohail, BBC Urdu, Karachi
A gun battle between the gunmen and army commandos lasted more than five hours overnight, officials said. I was with police at the Fokker Gate where some of the militants initially entered - and a few hundred metres from the fighting. We spent five to six hours at the airport while the militants were battling.
All operations at the terminal remain suspended and all flights are being diverted to other airports. Witnesses told us the militants came in a high-roofed van, which dropped them at the entrance to this terminal and then quickly left.
At least 14 people were wounded. We were told several militants jumped into the buildings and shortly afterwards a very heavy deployment of the Pakistani army arrived and firing began.
'Fake IDs' We took cover while loud bomb blasts could be heard. Officials told us it was suicide bombers detonating their vests. Later they discovered live suicide jackets from militants shot dead in the encounter.
The army said the 10 gunmen stormed the airport in two teams of five on Sunday night. They threw grenades and fired at security guards in the old terminal, which is now only used for cargo and VIP operations. Their intention may well have been for a longer and deadlier siege as one official told me that the militants had brought dry food supplies with them.
Seven of the attackers were later shot dead during a gun battle which lasted until about 04:30 local time (00:30 GMT). Another three detonated their explosives. 'Well trained'
The army said the 10 gunmen stormed Jinnah International Airport in two teams of five on Sunday at 23:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
The attackers are believed to have entered the area using fake ID cards, although some reports suggest they cut through a barbed wire fence.
They threw grenades and fired at security guards in the old terminal, which is now only used for cargo and VIP operations.
The Chief Minister of Sindh province, Qaim Ali Shah, said the attackers "were well trained".
"Their plan was very well thought out," he said, adding that they had failed to destroy some of the aircraft as they had intended.
Seven of the attackers later shot dead during a gun battle which lasted until about 04:30. Another three detonated their explosives.
The attackers set fire to cargo, but no aircraft were damaged, the officials said.The attackers set fire to cargo, but no aircraft were damaged, the officials said.
Initial reports suggested some of the gunmen were foreign nationals. Army officials said there were indications that some of the gunmen may have been foreign nationals.
The attackers are believed to have entered the area using fake ID cards. Other reports suggest they cut through a barbed wire fence.
'Plane on fire'
An ASF spokesman earlier told Agency France-Presse that the gunmen had reached the runway and that a "gun battle is continuing between terrorists and [armed] forces".
There were also reports of at least two huge blasts at the airport.There were also reports of at least two huge blasts at the airport.
Sarmad Hussain, an official with Pakistan International Airlines, told the Associated Press: "I was working at my office when I heard big blasts - several blasts - and then there were heavy gunshots." Sarmad Hussain, an official with Pakistan International Airlines, told the Associated Press news agency: "I was working at my office when I heard big blasts - several blasts - and then there were heavy gunshots."
He said he and a colleague escaped by jumping from a window. His colleague broke a leg.He said he and a colleague escaped by jumping from a window. His colleague broke a leg.
Pakistan has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, with the Pakistani Taliban the main militant group.Pakistan has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, with the Pakistani Taliban the main militant group.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently told the BBC he was still hopeful his peace initiative with the Taliban could succeed. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently told the BBC he was still hopeful a peace initiative with the Taliban could succeed.
But little headway has been made since February and there have been frequent violent clashes.But little headway has been made since February and there have been frequent violent clashes.
Gunmen attacked Karachi's Mehran naval base in 2011, killing 10 personnel and destroying two aircraft in a 17-hour siege. Karachi has been a target for many insurgent attacks. Gunmen attacked the city's Mehran naval base in 2011, killing 10 personnel and destroying two aircraft in a 17-hour siege.
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