News is coming in that there were consecutive blasts inside a Pakistan Naval base in Karachi at around 11pm on May 22, 2011 [1].
The PNS Mehran (Pakistan Naval Station Mehran [2]), a heavily guarded facility of Pakistan Navy located along Shahrah-e-Faisal, is the headquarter of the Navy's Naval Air Arm. Eight to ten terrorists entered from the naval museum and launched an armed attack [3] on PNS Mehran, destroying a P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft with rockets.
There are reports of loads of gunfire and towering flames as the security forces and army personnel retaliate. Reuters reports [4] that four Pakistan airforce personnel have died in the attacks so far.
[5]P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft. Image via Twitpic by @FarrukhSiddiqui.
Pakistani Twitter users were quick to spread the news and voice their reactions. Here are glimpses of those conversations.
Osman from Lahore, Pakistan reports [6]:
@BitHack3r [7]: PNS Mehran is being attacked by terrorists. – Rehman Malik #Pakistan #Karachi
@BitHack3r [8]: A 4 engine naval aircraft being hit by terrorists, still on fire. #Karachi #Pakistan
@BitHack3r [9]: Terrorists are still inside PNS Mehran (Faisal Base). – Rehman malik
Saad informs:
@kursed [10]: Attackers came in from 3 sides at PNS Mehran; Dalmiya, Gulistan e Johar and Shahrah e Faisal
More reports:
@FK_kashmir [11]: #blasts near PAF Base Faisal. thick smoke and flares for SOS can b seen from my place, can also hear firing going on there #Karachi #Pakistan
@Bixenjo [12] (Sikander Bizenjo): Firing and blasts on naval base in Karachi; around 20 blasts have been heard around. Smoke up in the sky due to huge blasts. #Pakistan
@javeednusrat [13]: a dependable source insists the attack started with rocket fires and not bombs.it has all the appearances of a well-drilled out attack.
@ammaryasir [14]: 5 injured includes one foreigner, probably a Chinese.
@faizanlakhani [15]: complete blackout in base Faisal and Mehran
@terminalxpk [16]: NSSG (Naval Commandos) deployed through choppers at the firefight area, counter-operation underway #Karachi #Pakistan
@kfaroqi [17]: Pak Army killed 6 jamat e islami taliban and al qaeda terrorists in PNS Mehran. Well done #karachi #Pakistan #mqm
@hiranajam [18]: All of PNS Mehran, Faisal Base cleared – except for the building where the terrorists are sheltering themselves – Reports
Khaver Siddiqi depicts the reality:
@Thekarachikid [19]: There's a 9/11, 26/11 and 7/7. Then there's everyday in Pakistan. #prayforpakistan
More reactions:
@faisalkapadia [20] Wake up this is our fight they are attacking us no one else lets use any means to get em before they ruin us #pakistan
@adnanrasool [21]: I have a feeling that.. the attack in Karachi is aimed at blowing up planes of #pakistan Navy and Airforce… its horrific in #karachi
@faisalkapadia [22]: People of #karachi we are under attack we must “unite” and not panic! Please stay calm we are togather in this. #mehran
Check out more updates on this developing story using these hashtags – #Karachi [23], #Pakistan [24], #KarachiAttacks [25] and #mehran [26].