9 killed, several airplanes destroyed in air force base attack in Pakistan

[Guest guest]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/23/c_13888440.htm

9 killed, several airplanes destroyed in air force base attack in Pakistan

English.news.cn 2011-05-23 05:55:12

ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people including three troops and

six militants were killed in a terrorist attack on a Pakistan air force base in

the country's southern port city of Karachi late Sunday night, local Urdu TV

channel ARY reported.

Besides, several military airplanes including imported U.S. made P.3.C Orion

aircraft were reportedly destroyed in the attack.

Earlier news reports said that four foreigners were killed in the attack and

they were believed to be U.S. engineers working at the air force base, but a

spokesman for the U.S. embassy here denied the report, saying no U.S. nationals

were killed in the attack.

The terror attack occurred at about 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday night when

three explosions were first heard inside the air force base, followed by heavy

gunfire.

The government troops immediately cordoned off the area shortly after the

blasts, media people, even rescue teams and ambulances were not allowed to enter

the area, no one knows what exactly is going on inside the air force base, said

a witness.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik later told a local media that a

Pakistan air force base in Karachi is under terrorist attack.

Local media reports said that an estimated 10 to 15 terrorists were involved in

the attack and they were armed with automatic weapons, rockets and handgrenades.

Up till now, nine explosions have been heard inside the air force base.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has ordered Interior Minister

Rehman Malik to watch over the situation. Navy forces, rangers and other armed

forces have been dispatched to the air force base and helicopters are hovering

over the air force base to monitor the situation there, according to local media

reports.

News reports said that the terrorists are targeting at the airplanes dwelling in

the hangars at the air force base. At least two airplanes have been destroyed

completely and several others have caught fire during the gunfire.

Pakistan Taliban (TTP) has reportedly said they are responsible for the air

force base attack.

Following the killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden by the U.S. special task

force in Pakistan's northwestern city of Abbottabad early this month, both

Pakistan Taliban and al-Qaida have vowed to avenge the death of bin Laden by

threatening to launch attacks not only in Pakistan, but also in the United

States as well as in the other parts of the world.

On May 13, Pakistan Taliban launched two suicide bomb attacks on an armed border

police training center in the country's northwestern city of Charsadda, killing

98 people and injuring over 140 others. This is the first major attack launched

by Pakistan Taliban following the killing of Osama bin Laden.