South Asia
24 killed in Karachi airport firing
"Heavily armed militants launched an assault on Pakistan´s busiest airport in the southern city of Karachi, leaving at least 24 dead including 10 militants in a six-hour siege that the army quelled at dawn on Monday," reported Pakistan based Geo News.
"Authorities said all 10 militants had been killed and that the bodies of 14 victims, including security personnel and four airport workers, had been identified at the city´s main hospital," it said.
Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Bajwa said the area has been cleared post operations.
"Area cleared.No damage to aircraft, fire visible in pics was not plane but a building,now extinguished.All vital assets intact," tweeted Bajwa.
"Terrorists were confined to 2 areas,and eliminated.Weapons, live ammo including RPGs,rockets recovered. Were wearing big packs," he said.
He said the airport will be cleared by mid-day for flight operations to start.
"Precautionary sweep after day light.Airport will be cleared by mid day for operations,handed back to CAA/ASF.Pakistan Zindabad!" Bajwa posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif congratulated participating troops for a well coordinated,successful operation eliminating all terrorists," he said.
Meanwhile, terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accepted the responsibility of the attack.
