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==Attack==
==Attack==
The attack began at 11:20 PM on 8 June and lasted until the morning around 4:00 AM of 9 June.<ref name="bp"></ref> Ten attackers broke through a security checkpoint in a van and attacked the cargo terminal of the airport with automatic weapons, hand grenades, [[rocket-propelled grenade]]s, and other explosives. The attackers were dressed as security guards, with some also wearing suicide vests. They were wearing uniforms of the [[airport security force|Airport Security Force]] (ASF), and had used fake IDs to enter the airport.<ref name=aje /> A senior Pakistani intelligence official said some of the militants tried to hijack a plane, but were unsuccessful.<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/08/karachi-airport-attacked-militants-pakistan</ref>
The attack began at 11:20 PM on 8 June and lasted until the morning around 4:00 AM of 9 June.<ref name="bp"></ref> Ten attackers broke through a security checkpoint in a van and attacked the cargo terminal of the airport with en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equipment_of_the_Indian_Army automatic weapons, hand grenades, [[rocket-propelled grenade]]s, and other explosives. The attackers were dressed as security guards, with some also wearing suicide vests. They were wearing uniforms of the [[airport security force|Airport Security Force]] (ASF), and had used fake IDs to enter the airport.<ref name=aje /> A senior Pakistani intelligence official said some of the militants tried to hijack a plane, but were unsuccessful.<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/08/karachi-airport-attacked-militants-pakistan</ref>


About 90 minutes after the attack began, hundreds of [[Special Services Group]] commandos arrived on the scene and began battling the militants.<ref name=wapo /> The attackers were reported to have initially seized control of the airport tarmac and runways. Within hours, eight of the ten militants were shot dead by the Army commandos and the remaining two blew themselves up when they were cornered.<ref>{{cite news|last1=ur-Rehman|first1=Zia|last2=Masood|first2=Salman|title=Gunmen Attack Karachi Airport, Killing at Least 6|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/09/world/asia/deadly-attack-karachi-international-airport.html|accessdate=8 June 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2014-06-08}}</ref><ref name=wapo>{{cite news|last1=Craig|first1=Tim|title=9 killed in attack on key Pakistani airport|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-airport-attack-kills-5/2014/06/08/9fbbbe2a-ef46-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?hpid=z1|accessdate=8 June 2014|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2014-06-08}}</ref> The siege officially ended after five hours. 31 people, including the ten terrorists, eight ASF personnel, two [[Pakistan Rangers]] officials, a [[Sindh Police]] officer, and two [[Pakistan International Airlines]] officials were killed in the incident.<ref name="tribune">http://tribune.com.pk/story/719242/four-security-personnel-injured-in-attack-on-karachi-airport/</ref> At least 18 security personnel were also injured in the attack and admitted to [[Abbasi Shaheed Hospital]].<ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=Attack on Karachi Airport in Pakistan airport leaves over 23 dead|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/attack-on-karachi-airport-in-pakistan-airport-leaves-over-23-dead/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref>
About 90 minutes after the attack began, hundreds of [[Special Services Group]] commandos arrived on the scene and began battling the militants.<ref name=wapo /> The attackers were reported to have initially seized control of the airport tarmac and runways. Within hours, eight of the ten militants were shot dead by the Army commandos and the remaining two blew themselves up when they were cornered.<ref>{{cite news|last1=ur-Rehman|first1=Zia|last2=Masood|first2=Salman|title=Gunmen Attack Karachi Airport, Killing at Least 6|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/09/world/asia/deadly-attack-karachi-international-airport.html|accessdate=8 June 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2014-06-08}}</ref><ref name=wapo>{{cite news|last1=Craig|first1=Tim|title=9 killed in attack on key Pakistani airport|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-airport-attack-kills-5/2014/06/08/9fbbbe2a-ef46-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?hpid=z1|accessdate=8 June 2014|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2014-06-08}}</ref> The siege officially ended after five hours. 31 people, including the ten terrorists, eight ASF personnel, two [[Pakistan Rangers]] officials, a [[Sindh Police]] officer, and two [[Pakistan International Airlines]] officials were killed in the incident.<ref name="tribune">http://tribune.com.pk/story/719242/four-security-personnel-injured-in-attack-on-karachi-airport/</ref> At least 18 security personnel were also injured in the attack and admitted to [[Abbasi Shaheed Hospital]].<ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=Attack on Karachi Airport in Pakistan airport leaves over 23 dead|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/attack-on-karachi-airport-in-pakistan-airport-leaves-over-23-dead/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:06, 9 June 2014

24°54′24″N 67°09′39″E / 24.90667°N 67.16083°E / 24.90667; 67.16083

2014 Jinnah International Airport attack
KHI is located in Karachi
KHI
KHI
Location of Jinnah International Airport (KHI) in Karachi
Date8 June 2014 (PKT)
TargetJinnah International Airport, Pakistan
Attack type
Terrorist attack
Deaths31 (including 10 attackers)[1][2]
Injured18
PerpetratorsTehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (claimed)

On 8 June 2014, at least 10 armed militants attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. 31 people were killed, including 10 attackers, and at least 18 wounded.[3]

Attack

The attack began at 11:20 PM on 8 June and lasted until the morning around 4:00 AM of 9 June.[4] Ten attackers broke through a security checkpoint in a van and attacked the cargo terminal of the airport with en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equipment_of_the_Indian_Army automatic weapons, hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, and other explosives. The attackers were dressed as security guards, with some also wearing suicide vests. They were wearing uniforms of the Airport Security Force (ASF), and had used fake IDs to enter the airport.[3] A senior Pakistani intelligence official said some of the militants tried to hijack a plane, but were unsuccessful.[5]

About 90 minutes after the attack began, hundreds of Special Services Group commandos arrived on the scene and began battling the militants.[6] The attackers were reported to have initially seized control of the airport tarmac and runways. Within hours, eight of the ten militants were shot dead by the Army commandos and the remaining two blew themselves up when they were cornered.[7][6] The siege officially ended after five hours. 31 people, including the ten terrorists, eight ASF personnel, two Pakistan Rangers officials, a Sindh Police officer, and two Pakistan International Airlines officials were killed in the incident.[8] At least 18 security personnel were also injured in the attack and admitted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.[4]

Responsibility

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.[9][10] Speaking from an undisclosed location, Pakistani Taliban commander Abdullah Bahar said the attack was retaliation for the death of former chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in November in North Waziristan. "We carried out the attack on Karachi airport to avenge the death of Hakimullah Mehsud," while dismissing the Pakistani government's recent offer of peace talks as a "tool of war." He went on to say that "Pakistan used peace talks as a tool of war, it killed hundreds of innocent tribal women and children. This is our first attack to avenge the death of Hakimullah Mehsud. We have yet to take revenge for the deaths of hundreds of innocent tribal women and children in Pakistani air strikes. This is just the beginning, we have now taken revenge for one, but we have yet to take revenge for hundreds more."[11] Bahar warned more attacks will follow. "As long as we are breathing, our attacks will be continuing 'til the end of our lives," he vowed.[12]

Another TTP member claimed that the Pakistani government has been "abducting and killing innocent people," and explained why the airport was targeted. "We chose a location where there would be less civilian and more official casualties," TTP representative Shahidullah Shahid said. Shahid warned the group will engage "in a full-out war with the Pakistani state, starting on June 10." But "if even now the Pakistani government backs down," Shahid said, "we are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue."[13]

Aftermath

All operations at the airport were suspended, all flights were diverted, and the airport was evacuated following the attack. Pakistan Army forces were deployed to the airport during the attack.[3] After the operation ended, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated, "This act of terror is unforgivable, the state will give a befitting response to such cowardly acts of terror. Those who plan and those who execute the terrorist attacks will be defeated."[14]

According to the Guardian, security measures at the airport have been criticised in the past. The road passing through the outer perimeter of the main terminal is guarded by the Airports Security Force armed with dowsing rods, similar to the ADE 651 fake bomb detectors sold around the world by British conman Jim McCormick, jailed for fraud the previous year. In an article titled "Why are countries still using the fake bomb detectors sold by a convicted British conman?" Leo Benedictus expressed surprise at the Pakistani officials who still believe the device works. He went on to say that not only Pakistan, but the security forces of Iraq, Lebanon, Kenya and Thailand still use the ADE 651 despite repeated warnings from the United States to stop using them.[15][16][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Taliban claim deadly attack on Karachi airport". BBC News. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Pakistani Taliban claims Karachi airport raid". Al Jazeera English. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Heavy fighting reported at Karachi airport". Al Jazeera English. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Attack on Karachi Airport in Pakistan airport leaves over 23 dead". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  5. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/08/karachi-airport-attacked-militants-pakistan
  6. ^ a b Craig, Tim (8 June 2014). "9 killed in attack on key Pakistani airport". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  7. ^ ur-Rehman, Zia; Masood, Salman (8 June 2014). "Gunmen Attack Karachi Airport, Killing at Least 6". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  8. ^ http://tribune.com.pk/story/719242/four-security-personnel-injured-in-attack-on-karachi-airport/
  9. ^ Lynch, Dennis (8 June 2014). "Militants Attack Karachi Airport In Pakistan: Live Stream And Updates". International Business Times. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  10. ^ "'Gunfire resumes' at Karachi airport after deadly raid". BBC News. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/karachi-airport-cleared-of-militants-after-attack-kills-28-1.1344670
  12. ^ http://www.ibtimes.com/pakistani-taliban-leader-says-plan-was-hijack-plane-karachi-airport-warns-worse-attacks-1596004
  13. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/09/world/asia/pakistan-karachi-airport-attacks/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
  14. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/09/pakistan-taliban-karachi-attack-peace-talks
  15. ^ http://www.dawn.com/news/858184/lives-at-airport-threatened-by-bogus-bomb-detectors
  16. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/jun/09/fake-bomb-detectors-british-conman-pakistan-karachi-airport
  17. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/middleeast/04sensors.html?_r=0
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