Blasts, gunshots, fatalities as armed militants storm Pakistan's largest airport

At least 5 people have reportedly been killed and an airport emergency declared after heavily armed militants stormed the airport in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. Twelve militants are thought to be inside and fire is seen rising from the scene.

The militants launched grenades and opened fire as they entered Jinnah International Airport. At least three blasts were heard, and an airport emergency has been declared, with flight operations suspended, reported the local Karachi Post. The five people killed are Airport Security Force (ASF) staff, according to Pakistani news channel Geo.tv. There are also reports of fatalities among the assailants.

The militants reportedly forged ASF identification passes and entered the airport’s old terminal, known as Fokker Gate. Rescue forces have been dispatched and are being allowed to pass into the area after being intricately checked, according to Pakistani English-language newspaper Dawn.

The number of assailants varies from source to source with police saying there are up to 6 militants in the airports and media outlets talking of a dozen. “Exchange of fire is continuing. We don't know the exact number of the attackers but suspect four to six terrorists have attacked the airport,” Senior police official Rao Muhammad Anwar told AFP.

One of the rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) in the terrorists’ possession was fired towards a plane, journalist Ali Kamran Chishti reported on his Twitter. Two planes stranded on the runway at the airport’s Jinnah Terminal and the passengers are being interrogated as they are directed to leave, Chishti said. “Terrorists have walkie talkies, satellite phones - heavy weapons - they are here for the long-haul,” Chishti tweeted. He added that Pakistani politician, Farooq Sattar, who leads the MQM political party is reportedly on one of the planes. Pakistan has been waging war against a homegrown Islamist insurgency for more than ten years, which cost the country thousands of lives.