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Gunmen storm military air base in Pakistan Gunmen storm military air base in Pakistan
(about 2 hours later)
Gunmen have attacked a Pakistani military air base triggering a fierce fire-fight with security forces that lasted several hours.Gunmen have attacked a Pakistani military air base triggering a fierce fire-fight with security forces that lasted several hours.
Several militants wearing military uniforms and suicide belts stormed Minhas air base at Kamra, near the capital Islamabad, just after dawn. Several militants wearing military uniforms and suicide belts stormed Minhas air base at Kamra, near the capital Islamabad, just before dawn.
Six militants were killed but at least one soldier also died and the base commander was seriously injured. Eight militants were killed, one soldier also died and the base commander was seriously injured.
It is not clear if other gunmen remain unaccounted for. All of Pakistan's air bases were placed on high alert following the attack.
All Pakistan's air bases have been placed on high alert following the attack. Shortly after the attack began, at around 02:00 local time (21:000 GMT on Wednesday) a police officer outside the air base, Hafeez Aulakh, said he could hear intense gunfire and see flames leaping up from inside, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Shortly after the attack began, a police officer outside the air base, Hafeez Aulakh, said he could hear intense gunfire and see flames leaping up from inside, the Associated Press news agency reported. The attackers initially fired rocket-propelled grenades from outside, which damaged one aircraft.
Militants did not reach the hangars inside the base, the air force said, although rocket-propelled grenades fired from outside are said to have damaged one aircraft. Air force spokesman Tariq Mahmood said the attackers then scaled a wall to get inside the base, though they did not reach the hangars inside the base.
He said the military was not "checking every inch of the complex to make sure there are no other miscreants".
Reporters who reached the scene several hours later said there was no sound of gunfire.Reporters who reached the scene several hours later said there was no sound of gunfire.
"Security personnel are now in the process of scanning the entire area," the air force spokesman said.
Base commander Air Commodore Muhammad Azam was reported to be seriously wounded but in a stable condition in hospital.Base commander Air Commodore Muhammad Azam was reported to be seriously wounded but in a stable condition in hospital.
Earlier reports said two soldiers had died, but this was later revised.Earlier reports said two soldiers had died, but this was later revised.
It was not immediately clear how the attackers managed to enter the base. Officials have denied speculation that the base is connected to Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme.
Minhas is one of Pakistan's biggest air bases with about 30 fighter jets including new JF-17 planes - jointly developed with China - that are being assembled there. It is about 60km (35 miles) north-west of Islamabad.Minhas is one of Pakistan's biggest air bases with about 30 fighter jets including new JF-17 planes - jointly developed with China - that are being assembled there. It is about 60km (35 miles) north-west of Islamabad.
The BBC's Tulip Mazumdar at the base says Pakistan insists it can protect its military targets, but this latest attack will again raise concerns over whether it is in control of its own security.
No group has said it carried out the attack but Islamist militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban have previously targeted military bases.No group has said it carried out the attack but Islamist militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban have previously targeted military bases.
In May 2011, militants attacked the Mehran naval air base in Karachi, killing 10 soldiers.In May 2011, militants attacked the Mehran naval air base in Karachi, killing 10 soldiers.
It took security forces about 17 hours to secure the base on that occasion.It took security forces about 17 hours to secure the base on that occasion.
In 2009 a suicide bomber killed six people at a military checkpoint in Kamra, in Punjab province.In 2009 a suicide bomber killed six people at a military checkpoint in Kamra, in Punjab province.