At least five people were killed today in a major Islamist attack on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
Islamists attack international terminal with guns and grenades, with at least five people killed, medical sources say.
The Washington Post reported:
Militants launched a brazen attack on Karachi’s international airport Sunday night, killing at least five people before seizing control of the airport grounds.
Television news footage showed a large fire behind a plane that appeared to be parked on a runway. The siege, one of the worst security breaches at a Pakistani airport, is likely to raise serious questions about the country’s ability to secure its major transit hubs and other high-traffic areas amid the persistent threat of militancy.
According to preliminary information, more than 10 terrorists stormed the airport about 11 p.m. Sunday and began lobbing grenades, said Asif Farooqui, a police official.
About five terrorists appeared to gain access to the Jinnah International Airport by shooting their way through a side gate near the old terminal. At least five others may have blasted their way through a wall near the cargo area, officials said. Three of the terrorists have been reported killed.
UPDATE: Pakistan’s Dawn News is reporting that 17 are dead in the attacks.
