Heavy firing and explosions were reported today near the entrance of the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, though it could not be immediately ascertained if there were any casualties.
Heavily-armed unidentified gunmen today made an audacious bid to force their way into the Pakistan Army's Headquarters in Rawalpindi, sparking a raging gunbattle which leftu00a0fouru00a0militantsu00a0dead. Several armymen also lost their lives in the attack.
Two terrorists managed to escape and search operations are still on, Pakistani army officials said.
Tehrik-e-Taliban pakistan has claimed responsibilty for the attack, according to reports.
An unspecified number of terrorists dressed in military uniform drove up to the fortified complex on the Mall Road in the garrison city adjoining Islamabad and took the guards by surprise, Pakistani media reported.
Police officer Mohammed Jamil said the attackers came in a white Suzuki vehicle, which soldiers stopped near a barricade. Its occupants immediately opened gunfire.
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Others jumped out and hurled grenades. They also kept firing from automatic weapons.
This sparked an intense shootout as the soldiers returned fire with some top officers trapped inside, TV news channels reported.
Security forces immediately cordoned off the area, bringing traffic to a standstill as the firing began. A helicopter hovered over the area.
About an hour later, military spokesman Major General Ather Abbas declared that four terrorists had been gunned down and the situation was under control.
Abbas told Geo TV that "some security guards have also embraced martyrdom" in the attack. Geo TV added that two terrorists were arrested.
"They wore army uniforms and tried to enter the headquarter area. When they were stopped, they opened fire and hurled hand grenades," an unnamed security official told the media.
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