Militants attack: Three die as Peshawar airport came under attack

Suspected militants fired rockets on Peshawar’s international airport late Saturday and killed at least three people and injured over 30 others, officials and doctors said.

Security officials said that three rockets landed inside the building of Bacha Khan International Airport while two others hit nearby residential areas.

Doctors confirmed that three people were killed and 31 others were injured in the attack, forcing the aviation authorities to seal the airport and cancelled several flights.

Unconfirmed reports said that six people were killed and 40 others were injured in one of the deadly attacks in recent months. It is the first attack at a civilian airport in Pakistan, officials said.

The Pakistan Air Force said the rocket attack on the outskirts of Peshawar Air Field, damaged the outer wall at few places.

“No terrorist has been able to penetrate inside,” the PAF spokesman said in a statement. He said Security forces were fully alert and are in control of the situation. No damage to PAF assets and personnel occurred within the Air Base. As the situation clears the media will be updated accordingly.

Security officials said the rockets were fired on the airport from the nearby tribal region.

Defence Minister, Syed Naveed Qamar, said that all planes at the airport are safe and that operation was continued to clear the airport.

Provincial Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed that the militants fired rockets from the nearby Khyber tribal region.

Dr Omar Chief Executive of Peshawar’s main Khyber Teaching Hospital, said that three bodies and 31 injured were shifted to the hospital. He said that four injured are in critical condition.

He said that all injured are civilians and they include women, children and aged people.

The Information Minister said there are also reports that the an explosive-packed vehicle was also rammed into the airport wall. He said there is no report of any damage inside the airport.

Local TV footage showed the people, including women and children, were running in panic. Some people were holding children and were fleeing their areas.

Severe firing was also reported shortly after rockets were fired at the airport and nearby areas in five minutes.

Residents said that rockets also smashed windows of several buildings near the airport.

Additional police and armoured vehicles arrived at the scene and the security forces sealed the airport, local media reported.

Sources said that all coming flights were diverted to other airports and flights from Peshawar airport were cancelled. The Civil Aviation Authorities said that all passengers and staff members trapped inside the Peshawar airport are safe.

Several vehicles were also damaged and fire erupted in several parts surrounding the airport.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban and another militant group ‘Lashkar-e-Islam’ are active in Khyber tribal region, which is also the main supply route for NATO troops neighbouring Afghanistan.

Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, strongly condemned the late Saturday rockets attack on Peshawar airport and assured the provincial authorities of all possible assistance in controlling the situation.

The Prime Minister spoke to Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and exchanged views with him on the situation arising out of rocket attacks by the culprits in Peshawar, the PM office said.

The Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister on the latest situation and the measures taken by the Provincial Government in coordination with the security agencies to control the situation. The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister, an official statement said.

The Prime Minister is constantly in touch with the Chief Minister as well as security agencies who are keeping him abreast with the situation.

He conveyed his grief and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and prayed for the departed souls and fortitude to the members of the victim’s families. The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to provide best medical treatment to the injured.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 15 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, South Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.