In a brazen attack, heavily armed Pakistani Taliban militants launched an assault on the country's largest airport here in which at least 26 persons, including 12 terrorists, were killed even as the military today mounted another operation amid reports of fresh firing.
Explosions and gunfire rang out as the attackers wearing military uniforms and suicide vests, and armed with grenades and rocket launchers attacked the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city and financial hub, late last night.
According to reports, eight ASF personnel, two Rangers officials, one police officer and three Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officials are among the dead.
At least 26 people, including 12 terrorists, were reported to have been killed in one of the most daring attacks in recent years in the port city, the Express Tribune reported.
Twenty-four people have been injured in the attack so far as well.
Earlier, the military had declared an end to its operation to secure the airport.
"All 10 terrorists have been killed, the airport secured and they were unable to damage any aircraft or installations," a spokesman of the military's Inter Services Pubic Relations (ISPR) said.
The terrorists were cornered and killed after they attacked the old airport terminal building late last night, posing as Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel.
The ISPR spokesman said that army units from the nearby Malir cantonment base, ASF commandos, paramilitary rangers and police had carried out the joint operation to clear the old airport area.
Sophisticated machine guns and rocket launchers were recovered from the slain terrorists who were being identified, he said.
However, reports said that three militants were still present inside the airport as fresh firing was heard near Isphani Hangar, which is the aircraft overhaul facility of the airport.
