Peshawar Airbase Attack: Five terrorists, four civilians killed

PESHAWAR: A suicide and rocket attack targeting jet fighters and gunship helicopters at the Air Force Base located within the compound of the airport here killed five terrorists, four civilians and wounded forty more.

The assault late Saturday claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), sparked prolonged gunfire and forced authorities to close the airport, a commercial hub and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Peshawar, on the edge of the tribal belt.

While search operation at the airport and airbase continues, ISPR said that the terrorists could not enter the airport due to timely actions taken by the Pak Army and Air Force successfully foiling the attempt of the terrorists to attack the Civil Aviation, Air Force and Pak Army Aviation’s assets located adjacent to the airport.

The terrorists Saturday night at 8.25 P.M. launched their attack on the airport from Aabdara Road side and tried to breach the airport wall at three places and succeeded in doing so at two, however, the Pak Army soldiers on guard over there killed the five terrorists trying to enter the airport, while the Peshawar police cordoning off the outer areas of airport engaged the terrorists. Having failed to enter into the airport, the terrorists taking advantage of the darkness went underground in Aabdara area, said the ISPR.

Bomb disposal unit said that 8 kilo explosives and 11 hand grenades were recovered from the terrorists. Besides the rocket attacks, the terrorists rammed a vehicle laden with explosives against the wall of the airport, while four civilians were killed and forty injured several of them seriously by two rockets that fell in nearby residential area.

Bomb Disposal Squad has declared the airport and its surrounding areas cleared, while search operation continuing in the airport and airbase areas.