#Karachiairportunderattackbymilitants – #liveupdates #Heavyfighting has broken out at #Pakistans #busiestairport after armed #gunmenpenetratedthesecuritycordon, #hurlinggrenades and #exchanginggunfire with #Pakistanisecurityforces Share 76 Email Ben Quinn theguardian, Sunday 8 June 2014 21.38 BST Jump to comments (25) Print this A police officer standing guard with at Karachis Zinnah International airport A police officer standing guard at Karachis Jinnah International airport in September 2002. Militants attacked the airport on Sunday. Photograph: Itsuo Inouye/AP 9.38pm BST Raza Rumi, a writer and policy analyst based in Pakistan tweets a picture which he says has been taken by a passenger inside the airport: #KarachiAirport. Pic by a passenger stuck there - M. Qasim. #Rangers can be seen. pic.twitter/AlcDIwwklN v @ahsannagi #Pakistan — Raza Rumi (@Razarumi) June 8, 2014 9.19pm BST You can read our latest story on the fighting at Karachi airport by clicking here. The attack is ongoing at the airport in the sprawling port city on Pakistans southern coast of Pakistan. Gunfire could be heard coming from the terminal as authorities scrambled to secure the area. Five bodies were brought from the airport to Jinnah Hospital, along with one person who had been wounded, the Associated Press was told by Dr. Seemi Jamali at the hospital. 9.13pm BST Pakistani troops are bolstering other security forces at the airport now, according to local media reports. A senior Pakistani military officer is also tweeting updates as follows: Update Kci:DG Rangers present at Airport,leading the operation. Corps Commander supervising it.Coordination of all those operating critical — AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 8, 2014 Update Kci Airport:Army Troops moved to Airport,have started reaching.Taking positions.Proper coordination being ensured for optimum effect — AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 8, 2014 9.05pm BST So who is behind the attack? Well, just last month a major faction of the Pakistani Taliban announced it was splitting from the militant outfit following bloody clashes with a rival group since March. Observers said the split was a victory for the Pakistani militarys strategy of pitting militant factions against each other while gaining the loyalty of key commanders. Peace talks between the government and Taliban that began this year have stalled, with the military recently resorting to air strikes on militant hideouts, killing at least 75 people. The breakaway faction belongs to the Mehsud tribe, widely considered the most important of the various groups that comprise the umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has fought the government since 2007 to implement its version of sharia law. Azam Tariq, a spokesman for the breakaway group, said last month: We announce our defection from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. We have chosen our Khalid Mehsud as the new leader for South Waziristan. Azam Tariq, a leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, talks with media in North Waziristan on May 27. A major faction of the Pakistani Taliban announced on May 28 it was splitting from the militant outfit following bloody clashes with a rival group since March. Azam Tariq, a leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, talks with media in North Waziristan on May 27. A major faction of the Pakistani Taliban announced on May 28 it was splitting from the militant outfit following bloody clashes with a rival group since March. Photograph: NASIR AHMED MEHSUD/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 9.07pm BST 8.46pm BST Karachi airport attacked by militants Heavy fighting has broken out at Pakistans busiest airport after armed gunmen penetrated the cordon of security around the facility in Karachi, hurling grenades and exchanging gunfire with Pakistani security forces. Smoke and flames were seen billowing from Jinnah International airports old terminal, which was surrounded by police, who initially said that they believed up to 10 gunmen were involved in the attack. At least four security guards were initially killed, according to local media, which carried reports of one aircraft being on fire. All flights have been diverted. Attacks have taken place before on airports in Pakistan, but this is believed to have been the first time that a civilian airport rather a military one has been attacked. Its Ben Quinn here in London. Jon Boone is also reporting on events from Islamabad. Were going to be bringing you live blog coverage of events in Karachi. Updated at 9.02pm BST theguardian/world/2014/jun/08/karachi-airport-under-attack-by-militants-live-updates?guni=Article:manual-trailblock%20package:Position2
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 20:42:34 +0000
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