Live: Efforts underway to rescue people trapped in Karachi airport cold storage

KARACHI: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for a brazen terrorist assault on Karachi airport’s old terminal. At least 28 people, including 12 terrorists, were reported dead in what is the first large-scale terrorist attack at the country’s largest airport in years. According to reports, eight ASF personnel, two Rangers officials, one police officer and three PIA officials are among the deceased. 26 people have been injured in the attack so far as well. The military had announced that the attack had come to an end early Monday morning, five hours after militants took siege of the airport. However, firing and blasts were heard from inside the airport hours after the announcement. Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from the runway area of the old airport (also known as the Hajj Terminal), as the airport shut down, passengers were evacuated and the flight schedule was suspended. Pakistan Army troops have been called in to take control of the situation. “A precautionary search operation will take place after daylight and the airport will be cleared for operations, handed back to the Civil Aviation Authority/ Airport Security by mid day,” said DG ISPR Asim Bajwa. June 9, 9:48pm The prime minister has called for the immediate rescue of those trapped in a cold storage in the cargo area, after watching Express News‘ coverage of the victims’ families, who have been protesting at the site of the attack.

June 9, 8:38pm According to our correspondent, the audacious terrorist attack at Karachi’s old airport has dampened the chances of foreign players’ appearance in a local Twenty20 tournament in Karachi next month. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 7:39pm

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 7:34pm Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has arrived in Karachi. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 7:03pm Relatives of those stuck in the cold storage are protesting at the airport, demanding their immediate rescue, Express News reports. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 6:51pm A worker is trapped under the debris of the roof that collapsed due to a hand grenade attack last night, Express News reports. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 6:44pm Two dead bodies have been found in the cold storage at the cargo area of a private company, Express News reports. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 5:44pm According to Express News, seven cargo workers, who work for a private cargo company, are still missing after the attack on Karachi airport. The brother of one of the missing workers’ said he last spoke with his sibling between 12 and 12:30 pm and that him and other cargo workers hid in the cold storage during the time of the attack. Four of them are believed to be cargo assistants while the other three are believed to be loaders. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 3:54pm Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has announced that each of the injured will receive Rs0.1 million. The families of the Rangers personal who were killed in the attack will be given Rs2 million and the families of the deceased ASF personnel will receive Rs1 million. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 3:46pm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directs Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to reach Karachi. The premier tells the interior minister to meet the high ups of Rangers, police, ASF as well as CAA. Nawaz also asked Nisar to submit a report on how to stop terrorist attacks. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 3:27pm Quoting DG ASF Azam Tiwana Express News reports that the attackers were foreign nationals. He adds that security has been enhanced at airports. Funeral of the martyred ASF personnel has been held. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 2:35pm Flights to Lahore and Dubai are ready for departure. Flights from other cities can land in Karachi Airport. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 2:3opm The airport has been reopened for operations, passengers are receiving their boarding passes, Express News reports. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 2:14pm Two PIA planes were damaged in the attack, Express News reports. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 1:53pm According to the initial report presented to the premier, terrorists entered the airport from two sides and intended to destroy all the planes. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 1:42pm The report of the attack on Jinnah International Airport has been presented to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the airport has been handed over to the CAA and the Airport Security Force (ASF).
Karachi airport attack: Exclusive eye witness... by TheExpressNews June 9, 12:30pm The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that the airport will be made operational at 4pm. CAA advises passengers to contact the relevant airlines two hours prior to their flight time. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:17pm Rangers spokesperson says that the search operation is complete. The airport has been cleared and declared as safe. “The attack is over and we have cleared the area of all militants,” a spokesman for the paramilitary Rangers, Sibtain Rizvi, told reporters. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:07pm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says the Karachi airport will be made operational soon. Necessary arrangements will be made to facilitate the passengers, he adds. No flight has arrived at the airport for the last 13 hours. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:03pm Express News reports that the terrorists entered the airport in two groups wearing ASF uniforms. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 11:59am The attack, which started over 12 hours ago, has claimed around 28 lives but the exact death toll has not been confirmed. June 9, 11:45am A senior intelligence official says it appears militants had aimed to hijack a plane that passengers were boarding at the main terminal, but that when they were repelled they went on the rampage. “The passenger plane at Jinnah terminal was their target and when they failed to reach there they destroyed two private terminals in frustration,” he says. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 11:38am The attackers used factor VIII injections, which aid blood clotting and reduce bleeding, Express News reports. These injections are a medication used in hospitals to control bleeding in people with low levels of factor VIII (hemophilia A). ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 11:29am TTP spokesperson evades comments when asked about Sindh Rangers DG Major General Rizwan Akhtar claim that the attackers looked like Uzbek militants. “We do not make a distinction in Muslims whether they are Pakistanis, Uzbeks, Arabs or Chechans. They all are Mujahideen,” Shahidullah Shahid told The Express Tribune by phone. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 11:21am Umar Media, the official media wing of the TTP, claims on their Facebook page that just six militants had attacked the airport. “The biggest reason for attacking Karachi airport is because it serves as the biggest air logistics centre supplying goods for the Crusaders’ war in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” a statement on their Facebook page claims. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 11:18am Security forces continue to sweep the airport as a security measure while sources say that all attackers have been killed. The airport is expected to be cleared and handed back to the Civil Aviation Authority by 12pm today. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 11:07am TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid promises more attacks in the future. “It’s just the beginning, we have taken revenge for one (Hakimullah Mehsud), we have to take revenge for hundreds,” he says. “We have yet to take revenge for the deaths of hundreds of innocent tribal women and children in Pakistani air strikes,” the spokesperson states. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 10:56am Rangers spokesperson says Karachi airport has been cleared of militants. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 10:49am Exchange of fire comes to a stop at the airport, Express News reports. Meanwhile, aerial firing from security forces still continues. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 10:44am TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid says “this attack was the revenge of martyrdom our leader Shaheed Hakimullah Mehsud and brutal killings of the TTP’s prisoners in jails.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 10:35am Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, while speaking to Express News, says attacks like the one at Karachi airport are carried out to destroy the image of the country. “This country is facing an internal threat and we need to save this country,” he adds.
Sheikh Rasheed views on Karachi Airport Attack by TheExpressNews “We carried out the attack on Karachi airport to avenge the death of Hakimullah Mehsud,” TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid tells AFP, while dismissing the government’s recent offer of peace talks as a “tool of war”. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 10:10am Sources say that the militants who blew themselves up this morning were between 18 and 19 years of age. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 10:07am Search operation by security forces continues. The two militants that blew themselves up earlier this morning detonated the explosives when they were cornered by the security officials at the Isphani Hanger. Sources tell Express News that more suicide jackets, petrol bombs and other ammunition were recovered from the airport this morning. June 9, 9:45am Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has asked for a report on the attack.

9, 2014. PHOTO: AFP An airport official tells Express News that militants had entered the airport from the ICG gate and killed four ASF officials at the spot. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 9:36am Three blasts heard at Karachi airport at the old terminal. According to sources, two of the militants blew themselves up. Politician Ijazul Haq tweeted: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 9:16am At least 28 people have been killed so far in the attack. Ten militants, eight ASF personnel, two Rangers officials, one police officer and three PIA officials are among the deceased. It is reported that 24 people have been injured in the attack so far. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 9:13am 6 to 7 tanks have proceeded to Isphani Hangar after the firing. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 8:49am Sources say three militants are present at Karachi airport. A high contingent of the Pak Army has reached the site of the firing. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 8:40am Express News reports that some militants are still present at the airport. The number of militants is not known as of yet. June 9, 12:45am Officials are telling The Express Tribune that the terrorists entered the airport from the Isphani Hangar, the aircraft overhaul facility of the airport. The hangar is located right in front of the PIA head office. It is improbable that there were too many employees there when attack occurred. The intensity of the gunfight and bomb explosions shook the entire neighbourhood around the old terminal. The terminal is considered as high security zone as VIPs including the prime minister and president frequently use it. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:35am CAA spokesperson Abid Qaimkhani has said he is not able to confirm the extent of the damage to the airport facilities or how many people have been injured or killed in the attack. “All I can say is that a few ASF and CAA officials have been injured.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:25am The Sindh government has declared red alert in the city and emergency has also been imposed in the hospitals of the city. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:20am Flights to Karachi have been diverted to other airports of the country. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 9, 12:10am The Army has been called in to back up security officials.