Jinnah International, Pakistan’s largest airport, fell under attack yesterday in Karachi after a Taliban group entered the premises and released fire. It has been reported that at least 24 people have been killed and 15 have been injured following a standoff that led to gunfire. The assault took the lives of 14 civilians and 10 militants, leaving the country distraught and many, many hearts shattered.
The Taliban group was disguised as security guards, which allowed them access through checkpoints without much question. The rebels then blustered through the inside, reaping havoc that lasted until approximately 5am yesterday morning when the last of the 10 attackers was finally killed. Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister of the Sindh Province, told reporters that Airport Security Forces and a flight engineer with Pakistan International Airlines were among the innocent people that lost their lives.
“They were well trained. Their plan was very well thought out,” Shah said in reference to the attackers. Times of India released that the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Talibanwas responsible for this detrimental act.
“We carried out this attack on the Karachi airport and its message to the Pakistan government that we are still alive to react over the killing of innocent people in bomb attacks on their villages,” said the orator of the Taliban group, according to the Dawn news service.
Although this presented itself as a chaotic, tragic circumstance, there have been questions raised as to the ease by which the militants made way through the airport. Many wonder how the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, the military’s spy service, did not detect suspicion.
All incoming flights were directed to other airports during the siege, and the people that were held captive on the airplanes during the attack were safely evacuated later in the night.
Photo: Reuters
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