News Live 99

Officers Dead in PNS Mehran Attack Pictures and Videos

Karachi—Militants stor-med one of Pakistan’s main military bases in the country’s largest city late Sunday, triggering explosions and gunbattles three weeks after the US killing of Osama bin Laden.

According to reports, an officer and a sailor of Pakistan Navy were martyred. Two Naval plane were also completely destroyed. The terrorists were armed with hand grenades and automatic weapons. They hurled hand grenades and resorted to firing. The exchange of fire between the terrorists and the Commandos of Pakistan Navy was continued till the filing of the report..

According to reports 10 attackers were still inside the base as at least six reported to be dead amid terrorist’s attack. Reports about arrest of 4 terrorists have also been received.

Earlier, eight powerful explosions and firing were heard near the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Museum Sunday night. Eyewitnesses said two blasts were heard at about 10:35pm.

The blasts shattered windows of surrounding buildings. Police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies rushed and cordoned off the area soon after the blasts and firing. Rescue teams including Edhi and Chhipa ambulances entered PAF Faisal Base.

An eyewitness said that the blasts took place near the gate of Faisal Base. Exchange of firing continued till filing of the report. A large fire and a thick cloud of smoke was reported. Police have sealed the area. “We are trying to check the cause of the blasts. I cannot say,” said a senior police official. Another police official said gunfire was also reported from inside the base.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed that terrorists had attacked the PAF Base Faisal. He directed the law enforcement agencies to reach where terrorists attacked. He said that terrorists launched armed attack on PNS Mehran, a heavily guarded facility of Pakistan Navy, located along Shahrah-e-Faisal.

The terrorists blew up a four-engine PC3-Orion plane of Pakistan Navy by firing a rocket. The five injured in the incident were shifted to a local hospital. Ambulances and fire tenders were seen rushing towards the base following the powerful blasts that were heard across a wide radius. Gunshots fired from sophisticated weapons were also heard following the blasts.

An American team was working on the plane which came under attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Pakistan’s military has long been on the frontline of gun, suicide and bomb attacks blamed on the country’s main Taliban faction and other Al-Qaeda-linked militant groups.

The Taliban have recently repeatedly threatened Western and Pakistani government targets to avenge the killing of bin Laden by US Navy SEALs in the garrison city of Abbottabad near the capital Islamabad on May 2.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned Sunday’s attack, and ordered his interior minister to Karachi and to “coordinate the security efforts being taken by the civil and military officials,” his office said in a statement. Commander Salman Ali, spokesman for the Pakistan Navy, told newsmen that members of the security forces were fighting against gunmen.

“An exchange of fire with terrorists is continuing. Their firing is fading away and we have launched a search operation,” he said. “It’s a terrorist attack. More than 10 terrorists are inside. They have attacked a navy air station located in a Pakistan Air Force base,” said home ministry official Sharfuddin Memon from the Sindh.

“One of the four aircraft inside the premises has been damaged,” he said. “I have no information whether they are the attackers or Navy personnel. ”In October 2009, Taliban militants besieged the army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi for two days, killing 22 people and raising serious questions over why it took the military so long to put down the assault. On April 28, four naval personnel and a passing motorcyclist were killed in a bombing, two days after four others were killed in navy bus bombings.

Last week, a Saudi diplomat was killed in a hail of bullets on his way to work at his country’s consulate in the city, just days after attackers threw grenades at the diplomatic mission.
KARACHI: Heavily-armed terrorists mounted a brazen attack on a Pakistan Navy installation adjacent to the Sharae Faisal on Sunday, killing at least four people, officials said, the fourth such attack on a heavily-guarded navy installation in the last four weeks.
Director-general public relations Pakistan Navy Irfanul Haq said that terrorists mounted simultaneous attacks on the base from the Main Gate, which is also called the Faisal Gate, the Museum Gate or the rear gate, and another vulnerable spot from the Shah Faisal Colony side.

He said they fired a number of rockets upon entering the base, one of which hit a hanger housing a P3C-Orion maritime surveillance aircraft which caught fire. He said that no other aircraft had been damaged, but other sources said that at least three P3C-Orion had been damaged. Besides the P3C planes, there were also Fokker, Defender and helicopters at the base.

However, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the militants had attacked from the rear of the base.

“We have been able to confine them to one building and an operation is underway either to kill or capture them.”

According to navy spokesperson Commander Salman, navy commandos and Marines were carrying out action against the terrorists. He said that the outer cordon was being mounted by Rangers personnel.

Haq confirmed four casualties in the attack and identified two of the deceased as Fireman Khalilur Rehman and Lieutenant Yasir.

Commander Salman Ali said: “An exchange of fire with terrorists is continuing. Their firing is fading away and we have launched a search operation.”

“It’s a terrorist attack. More than 10 terrorists are inside. They have attacked a navy air station located in a Pakistan Air Force base,” said Sindh home ministry official Sharfuddin Memon.

Eyewitnesses said that some of the terrorists arrived in three black-colored vehicles.

There were reports that some foreigners, presumably Americans, had been targeted in the attack, but the navy spokesperson denied these reports. Smoke and flames were seen rising from at least five spots, one of which was near a fuel depot.

An AFP photographer said he heard up to 10 blasts and periodic bursts of gunfire.

Army commandos in five or six trucks were also seen entering the base, while several vehicles of Rangers had also reached the spot.

Police, it is learnt, were not allowed to enter the base.

Official sources said that some of the terrorists had taken hostages and were engaged in a fierce firefight with the security forces.

They added that between 15 and 20 attackers were inside the base, and had attacked three hangars housing aircraft.

Al Qaeda-led Taliban militants, who have vowed to avenge the killing of their leader Osama bin Laden by US special forces, have carried out several attacks since his death on May 2.

The latest attack evoked memories of an assault on Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi in 2009, and revived concerns that even the most well-guarded institutions in the country remain vulnerable to militants.

The attack comes about four weeks after twin bombs hit buses carrying navy personnel, killing four people and wounding 56.

There have been no immediate claims of responsibility for the latest attack though.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani immediately sent the interior minister to Karachi to “coordinate the security efforts being taken by the civil and military officials,” his office said in a statement.

President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the terrorist attack at PNS Mehran in Karachi.

He said such cowardly acts would not deter the country from fighting terrorism.

The standoff between the terrorists and navy commandos continued until the filing of this report.

six terrorists death during operation and 4 arrest

lieutenant yasir nad naik khalil death PNS mehran operation director republication of navy

chief of pakistan navy staff say terrorists inside attack on pns mehren and commando operation to be continue

Seven explosions and gunfire were heard inside the PAF Museum on Shahrah-e-Faisal Road in Karachi. Towering flames arose from inside the PNS Mehran compound. Eight to 15 terrorists entered the compound suggest initial reports.

Ten explosions and gunfire heard inside the PAF Museum on Shahrah-e-Faisal Road in Karachi. Towering flames arose from inside the PNS Mehran compound. Eight to 15 terrorists entered the compound suggest initial reports.

1:15am

A 10th explosion has been reported on the PAF base by Tribune reporter Faraz Khan.

President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the attack.

1:10am

CID police and Army personnel were inside for an hour, however, CID officials are exiting says Ahmed Jung reporting for Express 24/7.

As yet, only fire brigades have been let inside.

The identities of the alleged four dead in the attack have not been confirmed.

12:58am

Tribune reporter Faraz Khan reports another blast in the PAF compound.

Pakistan Navy Spokesman confirms there are no casualties and only two people have been injured so far. He has confirmed that the Pc3 Orion aircraft was attacked.

Navy depot and a godown was attacked as well, say initial reports.

Firing is continuing inside the PAF base.

The fire in the compound has died down substantially.

DG PR Navy Irfanul Haq also confirms two injuries in the attack.

12:50am

Fire has spread to three locations confirms Ahmed Jung reporting for Express 24/7. Fire is still visible where the terrorists first attacked.

Special forces including Army personnel and CID police have arrived to fight the terrorists inside the base.

Earlier reports that Americans were present when terrorists targeted P3C Orion plane have been refuted by a US Embassy spokesman.

12:49am

Terrorists entered from the back of the base, say sources. They had information regarding what aircrafts were inside. The attack was well planned.

KARACHI: Militants stormed one of Pakistan’s main military bases in the country’s largest city late Sunday, triggering explosions and gunbattles three weeks after the US killing of Osama bin Laden. According to DawnNews there could be 10 to 12 attackers still inside the base as at least six reported to be dead amid terrorist’s attack.

At least 10 people were wounded as blasts and gunshots rang out at the sprawling base used by the Air Force and Navy in the centre of Karachi, where the local government confirmed that the base was under “terrorist attack”.

An AFP reporter saw scores of soldiers and navy commando reinforcements entering the base, where flames and smoke could be seen rising into the night sky. An AFP photographer heard seven blasts and periodic bursts of gunfire.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Pakistan’s military has long been on the frontline of gun, suicide and bomb attacks blamed on the country’s main Taliban faction and other Al-Qaeda-linked militant groups.

The Taliban have recently repeatedly threatened Western and Pakistani government targets to avenge the killing of bin Laden by US Navy SEALs in the garrison city of Abbottabad near the capital Islamabad on May 2.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned Sunday’s attack, and ordered his interior minister to Karachi and to “coordinate the security efforts being taken by the civil and military officials,” his office said in a statement.

Commander Salman Ali, spokesman for the Pakistan Navy, told AFP that members of the security forces were fighting against gunmen.

“An exchange of fire with terrorists is continuing. Their firing is fading away and we have launched a search operation,” he said.

“It’s a terrorist attack. More than 10 terrorists are inside. They have attacked a navy air station located in a Pakistan Air Force base,” said home ministry official Sharfuddin Memon from the southern province Sindh.

“One of the four aircraft inside the premises has been damaged,” he said, adding that at least 10 people had been wounded.

“I have no information whether they are the attackers or Navy personnel.”In October 2009, Taliban militants beseiged the army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi for two days, killing 22 people and raising serious questions over why it took the military so long to put down the assault.

Karachi, Pakistan’s financial capital whose sea port is used by NATO to ship supplies to the estimated 130,000 US-led foreign troops fighting the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan, has recently seen a spike in attacks on the military.

On April 28, four naval personnel and a passing motorcyclist were killed in a bombing, two days after four others were killed in navy bus bombings.

Last week, a Saudi diplomat was killed in a hail of bullets on his way to work at his country’s consulate in the city, just days after attackers threw grenades at the diplomatic mission.

Pakistan’s seemingly powerful security establishment was left humiliated by the discovery and killing of the Al-Qaeda terror chief in a unilateral American Navy SEAL raid that has rocked relations with wary ally Washington.

In an interview with the BBC broadcast on Sunday, US President Barack Obama said he stood ready to order a similar mission to that which killed bin Laden if another high-value target was discovered in Pakistan, or any other country.

“We are very respectful of the sovereignty of Pakistan, but we cannot allow someone who is actively planning to kill our people or our allies’ people, we can’t allow those kinds of active plans to come to fruition without us taking some action,” he added.

Earlier on Sunday, thousands demonstrated in Karachi to demand an immediate end to US missile strikes in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt on the Afghan border and urge the blocking of NATO supplies passing through the country.

Activists from the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) led by former cricket hero Imran Khan held a two-day sit-in outside the Arabian Sea port, urging the government to end its cooperation with Washington’s “war on terror.” – AFP