Gunmen attack Pakistan air force base in Peshawar

• 7 hours ago
• From the section Asia

Soldiers were deployed to repel the gunmen

At least 16 people have been killed in a militant attack on a Pakistani air force base in Peshawar, officials say.

The gunmen stormed a guard post and then entered the Badaber air base and attacked a mosque at the site, Major General Asim Bajwa said.
He said security forces killed 13 militants and a hunt was on for the remaining gunmen.
The Pakistani Taliban said they ordered the attack. Peshawar has frequently been targeted by militants.
Last December more than 150 students and teachers were killed when Taliban gunmen attacked an army-run school in the city.
Gen Bajwa said a rapid response force engaged the attackers on Friday morning and contained them around a guard room.
"Clearance operations" were in progress to secure the site, he added.

About 20 people were injured in the attack

A military official, who did not want to be named, told the Reuters news agency that the militants had "explosives-laden jackets and were armed with hand-propelled grenades, mortars, AK-47 rifles".
Reports say about 20 people, including 10 soldiers, were also injured in the exchange of fire.
In an email, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Muhammad Khurasani said a "suicidal unit" had carried out the attack.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying: "Terrorists will be rooted out from the country."

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