The Islamabad international airport was closed on Tuesday night
after shooting and explosion at its VIP parking entrance, according
to local press reports.
No flights taking off or landing will be allowed for the moment
at the airport of the Pakistani capital, said the reports.
Police officer Syed Marwat Shah told the media that the incident
occurred at 8:50 PM (17:50 GMT) on Tuesday when police tried to
stop a suspected attacker who attempted to force into the VIP
parking section.
The attacker opened fire and police returned fire, according to
Shah. During the firing, a grenade with the attacker fell down and
exploded killing the attacker and injuring one policeman and two
guards.
The attacker came to the airport gate in a rent car but walked
into the airport. The taxi driver was later detained by police for
interrogation.
The roads to the Islamabad airport were blocked and the armymen
were reaching the airport. Security has been beefed up in major
airports around the country.
This is the sixth suicide attack in Pakistan and the second in
Islamabad in 10 days.
On Jan. 26, a suicide bomber attacked a five-star hotel in the
Pakistani capital of Islamabad, killing two persons including
himself and injured seven others.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2007)
