Peshawar: Taliban militants attacked an air force base in this northwestern city of Pakistan today, sparking a gunbattle with the security forces that left six terrorists dead.
Up to 10 gunmen attacked a guard post and entered the Badaber air base in outskirts of the city, military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said on Twitter.
Bajwa said terrorists attacked the guard room at the camp early in the morning.
“Terrorists attk guard room early morning. Quick reaction force reached, surrounded, isolated them,” he tweeted.
Six militants have been killed in an exchange of fire with security forces. It was unclear if the 16 killed in the mosque at the Badaber air base in the northwestern city of Peshawar were civilians or military personnel. At least 22 people, including eight soldiers and two senior army officer, were injured in the attack.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
“Our suicidal unit carried out the attack,” TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani said in an email statement.
Bajwa said security forces reached the area shortly after and sealed it off but a gun battle is still under way. Army is conducting aerial surveillance of the area to nab the militants.
Peshawar has frequently been targeted by militants. Last December more than 150 people, mostly children were killed when Taliban gunmen attacked an army-run school.
