Pakistan seals off Karachi airport area; Emirates advises travellers

Pakistani security personnel stand guard behind a cordon at the damaged premises of a cold-storage cargo facility at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. (AFP)

Smoke rises above Karachi airport terminal Monday, June 9, 2014 in Pakistan. Gunmen disguised as police guards attacked the terminal with machine guns and a rocket launcher during a five-hour siege that killed 13 people as explosions echoed into the night, while security forces retaliated and killed all the attackers, officials said Monday. (AP)

Published Tuesday, June 10, 2014

By Agencies

JUST IN: Pakistani forces seal off area around Karachi Airport Academy, conduct search operation, reports Reuters witness.

Pakistani forces cordoned off the area around a Karachi airport academy and searched the neighbourhood for militants after the building came under gunfire earlier in the day, a Reuters reporter at the scene said.

Meanwhile, Emirates has advised passengers of possible changes in flight timings for the Dubai-Karachi route in wake of security operations.

READ: Expert warns of more attacks on Pakistan civilian airports

"The shooting came from a nearby shanty settlement towards the ASF (Airport Security Force) academy," said a senior police officer. "Police are launching a search operation now."

Pakistani army sends troops to reinforce Karachi academy

Pakistan's army said on Tuesday it had deployed troops to reinforce security forces trying to protect an airport academy which has come under attack from militants in the port city of Karachi.

"Army troops (have been) moved to reinforce security forces to counter (the) terrorist attack on ASF (Airport Security Forces)," the army's press wing said.

Pakistani spokesman says firefight underway with attackers at airport security training facility.

Dubai flight turns back from Karachi in fresh wave of attack

EK606 returned to Dubai at 1.40pm UAE time

Emirates flight EK606, which was bound for Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport this morning, has turned back to Dubai in the wake of a fresh wave of terrorist attack that struck the Pakistani city.

While a statement from the airline is still awaited, its website has posted an alert that states: ‘Returned, in flight: Flight returning back to Dubai due to Karachi Airport closure’.

EK606 departed from Dubai at 9.55am and was scheduled to arrive in Karachi at 11.55am. However, the flight returned to Dubai with an estimated arrival time of 1.40pm.

In a statement, an airline spokesperson said: “Emirates is continuing to operate flights between Dubai and Karachi; however, passengers are advised to check their flight status on Emirates.com as some flights may have to be retimed. The safety of Emirates' passengers and crew is of utmost imprortance and will not be compromised."

Flights in and out of Pakistan's Karachi airport suspended

All flights in and out of Pakistan's Karachi airport have been suspended following an attack on a nearby academy run by the airport security force, a civil aviation spokesman said on Tuesday.

"Flights at Karachi airport have been suspended until further notice," the spokesman for Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority said by telephone.

Second attack in 48 hours

An academy run by the Pakistani airport security force, a unit tasked with protecting Karachi airport, came under fire on Tuesday, Pakistani news channels and a security source said.

"The ASF academy is under attack. There is gunfire. The extent of the damage is not clear," said a senior official at the Federal Investigation Agency. It was unclear who was firing at whom.

This attack comes a day after an all-night siege by the Taliban left 37 dead.

"Gunmen are exchanging fire with Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel at a checkpost guarding the airport," an ASF spokesman said.

TV footage showed paramilitary vehicles and ambulances racing to the scene of the attack.

"We have suspended all flight operations at Karachi airport and we are evacuating passengers," said Mashud Tajwar, a spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines.

The checkpost is located at the entrance of an ASF camp some 500 metres (yards) away from the main airport premises.

The assault came as Pakistan launched air strikes on a militant-infested tribal district, killing 15 people in apparent retaliation for the Monday assault.

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The page was last updated on: 12 January 2016 17:47