Pakistan airport attack kills 26

World Today

The Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility for a deadly five-hour assault on the international airport in Karachi. A group of ten gunmen killed at least 26 people, and the airport was temporarily shut down.

Pakistan’s busiest airport re-opened Monday with passengers coming and going from Karachi International, some seemingly unfazed by the news of the brazen terrorist siege.

Motasem Billah, passenger, says, ” What fear it is not a problem. But it is sad that in a Muslim country such a situation is occurring.”

Gunmen, disguised as airport security guards, stormed the airport late Sunday, engaging in a gun battle that lasted till dawn, and setting off explosions. Pakistani officials say it was a well-planned attack.

Armed with machine guns, rocket launchers and explosive vests, the gunmen seemed prepared for a suicide mission and by the time it was over, all ten were dead.

Ordinary Pakistanis are alarmed and angry. The Pakistani Taliban says the attack was to avenge the death of a former commander killed in a U.S. drone strike last year, and warned of more attacks to come. It’s a threat that’s taken seriously around the country.

Mohammad Younas, an Peshawar resident says,  “It is astonishing that they stormed into the center of Karachi with all those rocket launchers, rockets and hand grenades. This is sheer incompetence of the government.”

As soldiers and tanks pull away from the airport, Pakistanis are left with a new sense of unease about their safety and security.

CCTV’s Malini Wilkes reports.

Pakistan airport attack kills 18

The Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility for a deadly five-hour assault on the international airport in Karachi. A group of ten gunmen killed at least 18 people, and the airport was temporarily shut down.

PJ Crowley, formor U.S. State Dept dpokesman, is now a professor at George Washington University. Crowley talks about the attack.

PJ Crowley talks about the airport attack

PJ Crowley, formor U.S. State Dept dpokesman, is now a professor at George Washington University. Crowley talks about the attack.