Several militants launched a brazen rocket and gun attack on Bacha Khan Airport in Peshawar on Saturday night, killing five people and injuring several others in a 30-minute duel with security forces.
Five attackers were also killed in the attack that was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan said the target was the air force base inside the airport, adding that 10 TTP members took part in the attack and used two explosives-laden vehicles.
The military rushed reinforcements to University Road as soon as explosions and rocket fire jolted the area and cordoned off the site as it tried to negotiate the salvo. Unofficial reports said the rockets were fired from the nearby Tribal Areas.
Pakistan Air Force said a rocket damaged the outer wall of the airfield, situated near a residential area and military barracks. However, other reports said the boundary wall had in fact been razed when a bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into it.
The Inter-Services Public Relations said five terrorists had been killed in crossfire with security forces, adding that the assailants had an explosives-laden vehicle with them. It said the corpses of the terrorists would be cleared by the Bomb Disposal Squad before further formalities. The ISPR added that civilians had been killed as a result of the suicide bomber driving his vehicle into the boundary wall of the facility, but did not give an exact number.
The statement added the security forces were fully alert and had regained control of the situation.
“No terrorist has been able to penetrate inside (the airfield),” Group Captain Tariq Mahmood, a spokesman for Pakistan Air Force, said in a statement. “Security forces were fully alert and are in control of the situation.”
Mahmood said there had been no casualties among PAF personnel or damages to equipment during the incident.
A military official said three rockets had landed in a nearby residential area.
“We have repulsed the attack on the airport, everything is under control,” the official added.
An official of the health department said more than 40 people had been injured in the airport attack, adding that three of the dead were suspected militants.
Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar Chief Executive Umar Ayub said an emergency had been declared in all hospital and all surgeons had been called in.
Defence Minister Naveed Qamar said the terrorists struck with proper planning and even had a backup team to support the assault.
He said “many” suicide bombers launched the assault, but the forces had managed to avoid casualties and major damage.
Prime minister’s spokesman said the situation was being monitored and Raja Pervez Ashraf had praised the prompt response by the security forces in a critical situation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Bilour confirmed the attack but did not know of casualties. Provincial Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the airport had been completely secured and no major damage had been caused.
All airports across the country have been put on red alert following the incidents.