Pakistani interior minister on navy air base attack in Karachi
English.news.cn 2011-05-24 00:21:48
by Misbah Saba Malik
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Ten security personnel were killed and 15 others injured in the fight against the terrorist attack on a navy air base in Karachi, said the Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday.
Talking to the media at the Chief Minister House of Sindh province after a visit to the attacked PNS Mehran navy air base, the minister said that four of the six militants involved in the attack were also killed while the other two managed to escape.
Two naval surveillance planes P3C Orion were destroyed by the terrorists who were equipped with rocket propelled grenades, light machine guns and hand grenades, said the minister.
He said that 17 foreigners who were there to give training to naval personnel were rescued by the navy commandos.
"The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility for the attack," said the minister.
According to the minister, the attack started at 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday night and the clashes between the terrorists and the armed forces continued till 3:30 p.m. local time on Monday.
He said two terrorists were killed by the security forces in clashes, another blew himself up in one of the buildings while the body of the fourth is said to be in the debris. "They were wearing black shirts and trousers," said the minister.
The Interior Minister said two other suspected terrorists were stated to be seen running away by eyewitnesses at the base and added that the terrorists sneaked into the base from the back side by scaling the walls with the help of ladders.
"Two ladders and cutters were also found from the spot," he said, adding that the terrorists were between 22 to 25 years of age with fair and sharp complexion.
Rehman Malik said that the President and the Prime Minister were in constant touch with him during the operation and added that an investigation team led by Pakistan Navy will be established whose report will be made public.
He said all terrorist activities were being planned in Waziristan and al-Qaida and TTP were destroying the assets of the country at the behest of other forces that wanted to destabilize Pakistan.
The minister appealed to all political parties in the country to get united against common enemy and protect the homeland.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Pakistani interior minister on navy air base attack in Karachi