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| Karachi airport: security forces relaunch operation hours after attack left 24 dead | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pakistan's security forces said Monday they have relaunched a military operation at Karachi airport as gunfire resumed several hours after they announced the end of a militant siege that left 24 dead. | Pakistan's security forces said Monday they have relaunched a military operation at Karachi airport as gunfire resumed several hours after they announced the end of a militant siege that left 24 dead. |
| "We have relaunched the operation and called in additional troops," said Sibtain Rizvi, spokesman for the Rangers paramilitary force, adding that one police officer had been injured in the firing. | "We have relaunched the operation and called in additional troops," said Sibtain Rizvi, spokesman for the Rangers paramilitary force, adding that one police officer had been injured in the firing. |
| Gunshots could be heard inside the airport and rangers and elite commandos were seen rushing inside. | Gunshots could be heard inside the airport and rangers and elite commandos were seen rushing inside. |
| The initial assault at the Jinnah international airport began late Sunday and raged until dawn, when the military said that all 10 militants had been killed. | The initial assault at the Jinnah international airport began late Sunday and raged until dawn, when the military said that all 10 militants had been killed. |
| Equipped with suicide vests, grenades and rocket launchers, they had battled security forces in one of the most brazen attacks in years in Pakistan's biggest city. Among the 14 victims were security personnel and four airport workers. | Equipped with suicide vests, grenades and rocket launchers, they had battled security forces in one of the most brazen attacks in years in Pakistan's biggest city. Among the 14 victims were security personnel and four airport workers. |
| No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack Pakistan's paramilitary force said on Monday that the attackers were foreign fighters, including ethnic Uzbeks. | No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack Pakistan's paramilitary force said on Monday that the attackers were foreign fighters, including ethnic Uzbeks. |
| The authorities believe the group intended to destroy or hijack aircraft before they were stopped by security personnel and commandos. | The authorities believe the group intended to destroy or hijack aircraft before they were stopped by security personnel and commandos. |
| "Three militants blew themselves up and seven were killed by security forces," Rizwan Akhtar, the regional head of the Rangers, said in televised remarks. "The militants appear to be Uzbek." | "Three militants blew themselves up and seven were killed by security forces," Rizwan Akhtar, the regional head of the Rangers, said in televised remarks. "The militants appear to be Uzbek." |
| The attack came as talks between Pakistan and the Taliban, which began earlier this year, hit an impasse.The assault will raise fresh concerns about Pakistan's shaky security situation, and questions about how militants were able to penetrate the airport, which serves one of the world's biggest cities. | The attack came as talks between Pakistan and the Taliban, which began earlier this year, hit an impasse.The assault will raise fresh concerns about Pakistan's shaky security situation, and questions about how militants were able to penetrate the airport, which serves one of the world's biggest cities. |
| Officials said the gunmen entered from two sides of the airport at around 11:00 pm on Sunday – the terminal used for the hajj pilgrimage, and an engineering section close to an old terminal that is no longer in use. | Officials said the gunmen entered from two sides of the airport at around 11:00 pm on Sunday – the terminal used for the hajj pilgrimage, and an engineering section close to an old terminal that is no longer in use. |
| An AFP reporter witnessed three huge blasts as suicide bombers detonated their explosives. | An AFP reporter witnessed three huge blasts as suicide bombers detonated their explosives. |
| Smoke was seen billowing from the airport as fires raged close to planes parked on the runway, while militants, some dressed in army uniform, clashed with the airport's security force who were backed by police, paramilitary squads and elite commandos. | Smoke was seen billowing from the airport as fires raged close to planes parked on the runway, while militants, some dressed in army uniform, clashed with the airport's security force who were backed by police, paramilitary squads and elite commandos. |
| A senior intelligence official said it appeared the militants had aimed to hijack a plane that passengers were boarding at the main terminal, but that when they were repelled they went on the rampage. | A senior intelligence official said it appeared the militants had aimed to hijack a plane that passengers were boarding at the main terminal, but that when they were repelled they went on the rampage. |
| "The passenger plane at Jinnah terminal was their target and when they failed to reach there they destroyed two private terminals in frustration," he told AFP. | "The passenger plane at Jinnah terminal was their target and when they failed to reach there they destroyed two private terminals in frustration," he told AFP. |
| After the attack was quelled, a bomb disposal expert in full protective gear was seen walking from the site carrying a suicide vest and a bag full of hand grenades. | After the attack was quelled, a bomb disposal expert in full protective gear was seen walking from the site carrying a suicide vest and a bag full of hand grenades. |
| Broken glass and spent gun magazines littered the engineering section where the first exchange of gunfire took place as smoke from grenade attacks began to die down. | Broken glass and spent gun magazines littered the engineering section where the first exchange of gunfire took place as smoke from grenade attacks began to die down. |
| "I heard fierce firing and then saw the terrorists firing at security forces... Thank God I am alive, this is very scary," said eyewitness Sarmad Hussain, an employee of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). | "I heard fierce firing and then saw the terrorists firing at security forces... Thank God I am alive, this is very scary," said eyewitness Sarmad Hussain, an employee of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). |
| Syed Saim Rizvi, who was on board a plane on the runway, tweeted: "Huge blast!!!! I do not know whats going on outside - heavy firing started again - full panic on board!" | Syed Saim Rizvi, who was on board a plane on the runway, tweeted: "Huge blast!!!! I do not know whats going on outside - heavy firing started again - full panic on board!" |
| Similar raids in the past have been claimed by Taliban militants who rose up against the Pakistani state in 2007 in an insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives. | Similar raids in the past have been claimed by Taliban militants who rose up against the Pakistani state in 2007 in an insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives. |
| In 2011, Taliban gunmen attacked the Mehran naval base, which lies close to the airport, destroying two US-made Orion aircraft and killing 10 personnel in a 17-hour siege. | In 2011, Taliban gunmen attacked the Mehran naval base, which lies close to the airport, destroying two US-made Orion aircraft and killing 10 personnel in a 17-hour siege. |
| The group also carried out a raid on Pakistan's military headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi in 2009, leaving 23 dead including 11 troops and three hostages. | The group also carried out a raid on Pakistan's military headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi in 2009, leaving 23 dead including 11 troops and three hostages. |
| The airport assault will cast attention on the government's controversial decision to negotiate with the Taliban instead of using greater force. | The airport assault will cast attention on the government's controversial decision to negotiate with the Taliban instead of using greater force. |
| Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government began negotiations with the umbrella militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in February, with a ceasefire beginning March 1 but breaking down a month later. | Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government began negotiations with the umbrella militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in February, with a ceasefire beginning March 1 but breaking down a month later. |
| As well as the Taliban threat, Pakistan is facing a rising tide of sectarian bloodshed mainly targeting minority Shiite Muslims. | As well as the Taliban threat, Pakistan is facing a rising tide of sectarian bloodshed mainly targeting minority Shiite Muslims. |
| In a separate attack in southwest Baluchistan province late Sunday, at least 23 people including several Shiite pilgrims were killed in a gun and suicide assault on the restive Pakistan-Iran border. | In a separate attack in southwest Baluchistan province late Sunday, at least 23 people including several Shiite pilgrims were killed in a gun and suicide assault on the restive Pakistan-Iran border. |
| The pilgrims were targeted as they returned from a visit to holy Muslim sites in Iran and stopped for a meal in the Pakistani town of Taftan. | The pilgrims were targeted as they returned from a visit to holy Muslim sites in Iran and stopped for a meal in the Pakistani town of Taftan. |