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| Smoke and flames could be seen from a part of the airport after terrorists attack at QAP. |
Karachi: A huge terrorist attack on Pakistan's big international airport Karachi has been thwarted by Pakistani security forces.
According to media reports, at least 10 terrorists equipped with rocket launchers, hand grenades, machine guns and other modern weapons attacked on Qauid-e-Azam International Airport by late Sunday night which killed at least 16 people, local media reported.
All of the militants were killed and military reported all clear at about 5 a.m on Monday morning, which ended hours of siege and explosions at the Karachi airport.
Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah who closely monitored the situation told the medai that at least 13 people were killed by terrorists, including 10 Airport Security Force, 1 Rangers, 1 airport staff man, 1 civilian by passer.
Terrorists, aged between 20-25 years, were carrying the bags full of edible things, i.e dry bread, dry fruits, water etc, along the heavy ammunition, which showed their intention to siege the airport for many days. The Police said that the terrorists were using the weapons of Indian origin.
Some reports suggest that the terrorists made it past security checkpoints near the old airport terminal which is used for cargo or private flights and the men wore Air Port Security Force uniforms.
According to Jinnah Hospital spokeswoman, at least 16 people had been seriously injured, in addition to the dead.
The spokesman for the Pakistani military, General Asim Bajwa, said on Twitter that no aircraft were damaged and that as precautionary measure, security forces were sweeping the airport before operations would be returned to the Civil Aviation Authority and airport police.
Sectarian Violence
In a separate suicide bombing in the country's southwest part, Baluchistan, at least 23 Shiite pilgrims killed while they were returning from Iran after pilgrimage.