At least 25 dead after Karachi Airport attack
Pakistani authorities have confirmed that the attack at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport that has left over 25 people dead has ended.
The country’s army has said all ten attackers, believed to be ethnic Uzbeks, had been killed after a gun battle that lasted over 5 hours.
The Pakistan Taliban, an alliance of insurgent groups fighting to topple the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and set up a sharia state, has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The militants reportedly wearing military uniforms stormed the airport shortly before midnight and shot their way into a terminal reserved for charter and executive flights. They also reportedly used grenades.
Authorities have confirmed that cargo had been set on fire but no aircraft had been damaged.
Many of the dead are reported to be airport staff.
All flights to Karachi have been diverted to other airports.
The attack comes as Pakistan’s government tries to hold talks with Taliban militants to end years of fighting in the country.
The country’s army has said all ten attackers, believed to be ethnic Uzbeks, had been killed after a gun battle that lasted over 5 hours.
The Pakistan Taliban, an alliance of insurgent groups fighting to topple the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and set up a sharia state, has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The militants reportedly wearing military uniforms stormed the airport shortly before midnight and shot their way into a terminal reserved for charter and executive flights. They also reportedly used grenades.
Authorities have confirmed that cargo had been set on fire but no aircraft had been damaged.
Many of the dead are reported to be airport staff.
All flights to Karachi have been diverted to other airports.
The attack comes as Pakistan’s government tries to hold talks with Taliban militants to end years of fighting in the country.