Karachi naval base attacked

Suspected militants stormed a naval base in Karachi late on Sunday night, rocking one of the nation's heavily guarded military installations with fiery explosions. The attack, which comes just three weeks after the death of Osama bin Laden.

  • Pakistani rangers and rescue workers gather at the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, May 22, 2011. Militants attacked a naval aviation base in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi late Sunday, rocking the base with explosions and battling commandos sent in to subdue the attackers, security officials said. (Photo courtesy: AP)
    Pakistani rangers and rescue workers gather at the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, May 22, 2011. Militants attacked a naval aviation base in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi late Sunday, rocking the base with explosions and battling commandos sent in to subdue the attackers, security officials said. (Photo courtesy: AP)
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  • Fire and smoke rises from a Pakistani naval aviation base, following an attack by militants in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, May 22, 2011. (Photo courtesy: AP)
    Fire and smoke rises from a Pakistani naval aviation base, following an attack by militants in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, May 22, 2011. (Photo courtesy: AP)
  • Pakistani rangers take position at the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, May 22, 2011. (Photo courtesy: AP)
    Pakistani rangers take position at the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, May 22, 2011. (Photo courtesy: AP)
  • Ambulances are parked outside a Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi.(Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Ambulances are parked outside a Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi.(Photo courtesy: AFP)
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  • Huge flames can be seen from Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Huge flames can be seen from Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
  • Media personnel take shelter under ambulances outside the base during military operation against militants at Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Media personnel take shelter under ambulances outside the base during military operation against militants at Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
  • Pakistani soldiers arrive for a military operation against militants at Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi.(Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Pakistani soldiers arrive for a military operation against militants at Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi.(Photo courtesy: AFP)
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  • Pakistani soldiers arrive for a military operation against militants at Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, they said it was revenge for Osama bin Laden's killing. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Pakistani soldiers arrive for a military operation against militants at Pakistan's naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, they said it was revenge for Osama bin Laden's killing. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
  • The terrorists used rocket propelled grenades to damage and destroy several warplanes including two P-3C Orions - recently acquired from the United States for anti-submarine and maritime surveillance operations. Commandos of the Pakistan Navy and the elite Special Service Group (SSG) have been deployed to flush out the militants. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    The terrorists used rocket propelled grenades to damage and destroy several warplanes including two P-3C Orions - recently acquired from the United States for anti-submarine and maritime surveillance operations. Commandos of the Pakistan Navy and the elite Special Service Group (SSG) have been deployed to flush out the militants. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
  • Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani reportedly spoke to the heads of all three armed forces asking them to take immediate action to control the situation. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani reportedly spoke to the heads of all three armed forces asking them to take immediate action to control the situation. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
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  • Pakistani army commandos drive through the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants in Karachi. The high-security area where the attack occurred also houses the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) Southern Air Command, Air War College and museum as well as PNS Mehran. (Photo courtesy: AP)
    Pakistani army commandos drive through the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants in Karachi. The high-security area where the attack occurred also houses the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) Southern Air Command, Air War College and museum as well as PNS Mehran. (Photo courtesy: AP)
  • Wreckage of a P-3C Orion aircraft is seen at Pakistani naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. It was recently acquired from the United States for anti-submarine and maritime surveillance operations. (Photo: AFP)
    Wreckage of a P-3C Orion aircraft is seen at Pakistani naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. It was recently acquired from the United States for anti-submarine and maritime surveillance operations. (Photo: AFP)
  • Pictures of the Mehran naval base from yesterday and today.
    Pictures of the Mehran naval base from yesterday and today.
  • A Pakistani army commando mans a checkpoint while others check vehicles as they are on alert following an attack by militants on a naval aviation base, in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AP)
    A Pakistani army commando mans a checkpoint while others check vehicles as they are on alert following an attack by militants on a naval aviation base, in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AP)
  • Pakistani army commandos drive through the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AP)
    Pakistani army commandos drive through the main gate of a naval aviation base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AP)
  • In this handout picture provided by Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik to local media representatives on May 23, 2011, the dead body of a militant lies on the ground following a military operation at a major Pakistani naval air base in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    In this handout picture provided by Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik to local media representatives on May 23, 2011, the dead body of a militant lies on the ground following a military operation at a major Pakistani naval air base in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
  • Pakistani soldiers take position during an operation against militants at a major Pakistani naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi on May 23, 2011. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Pakistani soldiers take position during an operation against militants at a major Pakistani naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi on May 23, 2011. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
  • Pakistani soldiers arrive for an operation against militants at a major Pakistani naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
    Pakistani soldiers arrive for an operation against militants at a major Pakistani naval air base following an attack by militants in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: AFP)