Taliban terrorists who stormed the Pakistan Air Force base camp in Peshawar on Friday killed 16 worshippers at a mosque inside the camp, including an army captain. Thirteen Tehreek-e-Taliban militants were also killed in the encounter with security forces, reports said.
The terrorists, dressed in constabulary uniforms, entered the camp in Peshawar's Badaber area in two groups. They sought shelter from security forces inside a mosque located at the air force base, Dawn reported.
"Terrorists lobbed a hand grenade inside the mosque at the airbase which resulted in most casualties," an official told The Express Tribune.
At least ten soldiers, including two Pakistani officers, were injured while fighting off the terrorists, while Pakistan Army's captain Asfandyar was shot dead as he was engaged in a gun battle with the militants.
"Captain Asfandyar embraced shahadat while fighting valiantly and leading his troops from the front, Asim Bajwa, Director-General (DG) of Pakistan's armed forces' Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Tweeted.
Update:Capt Asfandyar embraced shahadat while fighting valiantly and leading his troops from the front-10 pic.twitter.com/8QABikzDOZ
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
Update from On Site:Terrorists entered camp at 2 points.further split in sub gps.Encounter began immediately due to quick response.-8 — AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
Were contained within a close area.Meanwhile a gp rushed to mosque,martyred 16 Namazi offering prayers.Were surrounded,13 killed,continues-9
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
The Tehreek-e-Taliban, the Pakistani branch of the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack and also released a video showing the attackers.
