Militants attack on Pakistan military base kills 4
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 23, IRNA -- Heavily armed militants attacked a Pakistan military base in the port city of Karachi late Sunday night and killed four people, including a foreigner, security officials and local TV channel said on Monday.
Police sources said that a group of nearly 15 armed militants stormed a heavily-guarded navy base and destroyed a US-made P3 Orion aircraft parked there, navy spokesman, commodore Irfan-ul-Haq said.
Parts of the base ‘PNS Mehran’ caught fire and TV footage showed huge flames rising in the air during the well-coordinated attack on the heavily-guarded base, witnesses said.
Sources said that the armed men fired and lobbed hand grenades at the aircraft parked at the naval base. Local TV channels had earlier reported attack on the airbase in Karachi.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. But security forces said that Taliban militants have carried out the attack in an apparent revenge to the killing of Osama bin Laden. The al-Qaeda chief was killed in a US raid on a compound in the northwestern Pakistani city of Abbotabad on May 1.
It is third attack on Pakistani navy assets in nearly a month. The militants attacked two navy buses in Karachi late last month killing several navy officers and civilians.
Security forces cordoned off the area and did not allow the journalists to enter the area. Senior army officials arrived at the scene and were monitoring the situation.
Military helicopters were seen flying over the area.
TV channels reported that the security forces arrested at least two attackers who were trying to flee after launching attack and had gunfight with armed forces.
Senior police official Tahir Naveed said attackers remained inside the Mehran base and kept fighting with base personnel for over two hours.
An intelligence official said four people had been killed and five wounded. A foreigner was thought to be among those killed in the brazen attack.
The situation has been brought under control as rangers and army troops started pulling back to barracks. Ambulances have been allowed to enter into Mehran base after the army commandos took control of the base.
Witnesses said that the militants forced their way into the base at 10:35 p.m. local time and started firing and threw hand grenades at the base.
TV channels reported that the security head of Mehran Base was also injured in the attack and all injured were shifted to a navy hospital.
Terrorists remained present in PNS Mehran where exchange of firing between terrorists and law enforcement agencies continued for more than two hours, Samaa TV reported.
Police, paramilitary rangers and other law enforcement agencies’ commandos rushed to the attacked base and cordoned off the area, keeping the media and the people away from the base.
Officials requested people to take alternative routes as rush on the roads are hindering rescue activities.
Later, more than 100 fresh army commandos managed to make way into base where gunfight had been underway.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the terrorists attack at military base in Karachi.
Such cowardly act of terror, he said, could not deter the commitment of the government and people of Pakistan to fight terrorism.
The Prime Minister also talked to the Interior Minister and constantly in touch with the Army Chief, Air Chief, and Naval Chief to enquire about the detail of the incident, a statement said. He also directed the concerned authorities to take all out measures to protect the lives of the officials and public property and keep vigilant.
**2050
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30398072
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