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| Pakistan: Troops end attack on Karachi naval air base | Pakistan: Troops end attack on Karachi naval air base |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Pakistani troops have ended a siege by militants who attacked a naval air force base in Karachi, killing at least 16 people - including 10 soldiers. | Pakistani troops have ended a siege by militants who attacked a naval air force base in Karachi, killing at least 16 people - including 10 soldiers. |
| The attackers managed to hold hostage several foreigners at the base, but officials say they were later rescued. | The attackers managed to hold hostage several foreigners at the base, but officials say they were later rescued. |
| The Pakistan Taliban says Sunday's raid was to avenge Osama Bin Laden's killing by US special forces in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad on 2 May. | The Pakistan Taliban says Sunday's raid was to avenge Osama Bin Laden's killing by US special forces in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad on 2 May. |
| Many attacks have been carried out since then. | Many attacks have been carried out since then. |
| "It was the revenge of martyrdom of Osama Bin Laden. It was the proof that we are still united and powerful," Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters news agency. | "It was the revenge of martyrdom of Osama Bin Laden. It was the proof that we are still united and powerful," Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters news agency. |
| Clouds of black smoke billowed over the Mehran airbase when I arrived about half an hour after the attack began. | Clouds of black smoke billowed over the Mehran airbase when I arrived about half an hour after the attack began. |
| Ambulances, with sirens wailing, stood outside the gate of the compound, which was sealed soon after the attack began. They were joined by dozens of TV satellite trucks and journalists. | Ambulances, with sirens wailing, stood outside the gate of the compound, which was sealed soon after the attack began. They were joined by dozens of TV satellite trucks and journalists. |
| Initially, there was intermittent gunfire. However, 15 minutes after I arrived there was an exchange of fire that lasted for several minutes. | Initially, there was intermittent gunfire. However, 15 minutes after I arrived there was an exchange of fire that lasted for several minutes. |
| We had to lie on the ground as bullets and shrapnel whizzed over our heads. | We had to lie on the ground as bullets and shrapnel whizzed over our heads. |
| After successfully freeing hostages captured by the gunmen, security forces swept through the complex to mop up any remaining resistance. | After successfully freeing hostages captured by the gunmen, security forces swept through the complex to mop up any remaining resistance. |
| They were backed by gunship helicopters - which kept a constant vigil over the air base. | They were backed by gunship helicopters - which kept a constant vigil over the air base. |
| It took more than 15 hours for dozens of security forces to take control of the base. | It took more than 15 hours for dozens of security forces to take control of the base. |
| Interior Minister Rehman Malik said 10 soldiers had died and 15 were wounded in the attack. | Interior Minister Rehman Malik said 10 soldiers had died and 15 were wounded in the attack. |
| Two attackers were also killed and a third blew himself up. Another is believed to be buried under debris and two more are thought to have escaped. | Two attackers were also killed and a third blew himself up. Another is believed to be buried under debris and two more are thought to have escaped. |
| An unexploded suicide jacket and live grenades were found, the minister added. | An unexploded suicide jacket and live grenades were found, the minister added. |
| There were 17 foreigners at the site, including 11 Chinese aviation trainers, but all are safe, Mr Malik said. He added that all of them were later rescued uninjured. | There were 17 foreigners at the site, including 11 Chinese aviation trainers, but all are safe, Mr Malik said. He added that all of them were later rescued uninjured. |
| The attack is similar to a raid in October 2009 in which Taliban militants laid siege to the army headquarters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, killing dozens. | The attack is similar to a raid in October 2009 in which Taliban militants laid siege to the army headquarters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, killing dozens. |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says the Karachi incident will revive fears about the security of Pakistan's nuclear installations. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says the Karachi incident will revive fears about the security of Pakistan's nuclear installations. |
| It is also another major blow to falling morale of the military after the raid on Bin Laden, correspondents say. | It is also another major blow to falling morale of the military after the raid on Bin Laden, correspondents say. |
| Aircraft burned | Aircraft burned |
| On Sunday evening at 2230 (1730 GMT), militants stormed three hangars housing aircraft at the Mehran naval aviation base, according to officials. | On Sunday evening at 2230 (1730 GMT), militants stormed three hangars housing aircraft at the Mehran naval aviation base, according to officials. |
| Mr Malik said they cut through barbed wire at a place on the perimeter where they could not be detected by security cameras, and they were wearing black. | Mr Malik said they cut through barbed wire at a place on the perimeter where they could not be detected by security cameras, and they were wearing black. |
| However, eyewitnesses say the attackers were dressed as naval officials and were aware of the security protocol at the base and carried themselves like soldiers. | However, eyewitnesses say the attackers were dressed as naval officials and were aware of the security protocol at the base and carried themselves like soldiers. |
| Their first targets were aircraft parked on the tarmac and equipment in nearby hangers, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan at the scene. | Their first targets were aircraft parked on the tarmac and equipment in nearby hangers, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan at the scene. |
| The militants used rocket-propelled grenades to damage and destroy several warplanes, witnesses said. These included the Pakistan navy's premier anti-submarine and marine surveillance aircraft - the US-made P-3C Orion. | The militants used rocket-propelled grenades to damage and destroy several warplanes, witnesses said. These included the Pakistan navy's premier anti-submarine and marine surveillance aircraft - the US-made P-3C Orion. |
| At least two of these multi-million dollar planes were set ablaze. | At least two of these multi-million dollar planes were set ablaze. |
| The gunmen then opened indiscriminate fire, killing several naval personnel as they carried their raid into the heart of the base. | The gunmen then opened indiscriminate fire, killing several naval personnel as they carried their raid into the heart of the base. |
| Subsequently, navy commandos and marines launched a counter-assault. Dozens of heavily armed army reinforcements also arrived to provide cover, backed by gunship helicopters. | Subsequently, navy commandos and marines launched a counter-assault. Dozens of heavily armed army reinforcements also arrived to provide cover, backed by gunship helicopters. |
| Some of the militants were killed, officials say. | Some of the militants were killed, officials say. |
| It took the security forces more than 15 hours to secure the base. | It took the security forces more than 15 hours to secure the base. |
| Officials say that troops were now combing the base for any remaining militants but they have to be careful because of military aircraft on the site. | Officials say that troops were now combing the base for any remaining militants but they have to be careful because of military aircraft on the site. |
| "Because of the presence of several assets on the base, the operation is being carried out in a cautious, smart way," Irfan ul Haq told the Associated Press news agency. | "Because of the presence of several assets on the base, the operation is being carried out in a cautious, smart way," Irfan ul Haq told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "That's why it's taking so long." | "That's why it's taking so long." |
| On Friday, the Taliban bombed a US consulate convoy in Peshawar, killing one Pakistani. | On Friday, the Taliban bombed a US consulate convoy in Peshawar, killing one Pakistani. |
| Other attacks by Pakistani militants this month include a raid on a security post that killed two police in the north-west and a twin suicide bombing at a paramilitary police training centre. | Other attacks by Pakistani militants this month include a raid on a security post that killed two police in the north-west and a twin suicide bombing at a paramilitary police training centre. |