Five terrorists killed in Peshawar shootout

PESHAWAR: Five militants and a policeman were killed during fierce gun battle between law enforcement agencies and a group of militants holed up in Pawakai area of the city, Geo News reported on Sunday.

The assault late Saturday claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), sparked prolonged gunfire and forced authorities to close the airport, a commercial hub and Pakistan Air Forc

The latest shootout took place following a Taliban attack on Peshawar’s Bacha Khan Airport in a bid to storm Pakistan Air Force base located near the airport on Saturday night.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of the army, said in a statement that three out of five militants were killed by police in Pawakai area of Peshawar while two exploded themselves up at a residential compound. The ISPR said the compound where the terrorists took refuge was cleared during the operation.

CCPO Peshawar Imtiaz Altaf told media that three suicide vests attached to the bodies of terrorists were defused while two suspects were also held during the operation.

Earlier, SHO Hyatabad Bashir Daad told Geo News that number of terrorists could not be confirmed.He said that the terrorists took shelter in different houses of the locality.

The militants opened fire on police as they came out of their hideout and were killed in retaliatory fire. Police said two militants took shelter in an under construction house located near a mosque.

Heavy contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the area and road leading to Pawakai had been blocked for the traffic.

Pawakai is located at the distance of one kilometer from the Peshawar Airport where the five terrorists and four civilians were killed last night.

Geo News correspondent said the security forces were trying to capture or kill the terrorists holed up in the house. He said that militants opened fire on security forces as they reached near the house.

Explosions were also heard in the area where the gun battle was taking place.

A local told Geo News that at least five militants took shelter at an under construction house around 7:00 AM and police reached the area hours after they were informed about the presence of the suspected militants.

Eyewitnesses said four out of five militants were Uzbek nationals. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister also confirmed that three terrorists were killed while efforts were underway to capture or kill two others.

He said that Bacha Khan Airport was opened following the last night attack after security clearance.