11 including 5 rebels dead in Peshawar airport attack

THE FRONTIER POST

At least six people were killed and around 45 injured while four were told to be critical after Bacha Khan International Airport came under barrage of rocket attack followed by heavy gun fire here on Saturday night. Five terrorists have been killed when they rammed their explosive-laden vehicle in the wall of the Bacha Khan International Airport. The explosions were so intensive that their voice was heard in far-flung areas, while the windows of nearby buildings were broken as well. The site of occurrence caught fire after the explosion. The airport was sealed after rockets and bullets rained on it form all sides as it was hard to nail the location of the attackers, however according to unofficial reports the rockets were fired from the tribal area."At least five rockets were fired at the airport from Darra" sources said quoting security forces.Terror and horror gripped the area and people preferred to remain within the limits of their homes. Police official told that they were searching to determine the main point.Chief Executive Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Dr. Omer Ayub Khan said that three people were confirmed dead and 31 others injured of whom condition of three persons are highly serious as three rockets fired from undisclosed location hit the Peshawar International Airport Saturday night.He told the reporters that three bodies and 31 injured persons have been received by his hospital of which condition of three persons is stated to be critical. The injured people have sustained multiple injuries of bullet and mortar shells, he added. He said all the dead persons are male and have been identified as Alamzeb Khan Afridi, Engineer Fawad and Bilal, Amanat and a police constable. The injured included men, women and children. According to the eye witnesses, two rockets also fell at the runway of the Peshawar Airport. They said the target of the terrorist was airport. The clouds of smoke and fire flames have also been seen in the locality.Earlier three loud explosions were reported from different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's capital, but later they turned out to be rocket fire near airport. Pakistan Army squad has reached the site of occurrence and undertook control of the Airport.Heavy gunfire erupted after explosion inside the airport on top of two earlier rocket attacks.It is not sure who the attackers were and what was on their mind as no one was allowed to enter the airport, sources said."There was no knowing what's going on. Security forces have sealed the airport after besieging it. All the roads leading to the airport have been blocked as well", sources said.Sources also said that the shooting that came on the heels of rocket attacks subsided as soon as security forces took control of the airport, however sporadic firing continues.Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bashir Bilour while talking to media persons confirmed a vehicle being on fire but said no report of any casualties has so far been received.He, however, said that he had knowledge whatsoever as to what the situation was inside the Peshawar airport.Provincial minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told media that the rockets were fired from outside the airport, yet airport is completely secured.On the other hand sources in Khyber Teaching Hospital have confirmed five fatalities and 25 cases of injuries."We received injured with bullet, shrapnel, rockets shells wounds. Some of them are critical", said hospital administrator. Some injured were also shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.Earlier sources reported two rockets, fired from unknown location, landed in the University Town near airport.Reportedly one of the rockets struck a residential block, while the other blew away part of airport's boundary wall with loud bangs which shattered the windowpanes and walls of the buildings close-by.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday phoned Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti and exchanged views with him on the situation arising out of rocket attacks by the culprits in Peshawar.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 of all possible assistance in controlling the situation. The Prime Minister strongly condemned the incident and conveyed his grief and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant peace to 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.The Prime Minister is constantly in touch with the Chief Minister, KPK as well as security agencies who are keeping him abreast with the situation.Meanwhile, a spokesman of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said on Saturday that there has been a rocket attack on the outskirts of Peshawar Air field, due to which outer wall was damaged at few places. In a statement issued here, he said that no terrorist has been able to penetrate inside. Security forces were fully alert and are in control of the situation. He said that no damage to PAF assets and personnel occurred within the Air Base. As the situation clears the media will be updated accordingly.