Pak airports on red alert after terror attack threat

Islamabad, Sept 25 : All airports in Pakistan have reportedly been put on a red alert after Islamabad's International Terminal received a phone call warning of a possible bomb attack at the airport.

Flights were, however, operating as normal, an official at the Islamabad Airport said.

"We have ordered a red alert at all airports following the threat received at Islamabad airport," a senior Airport Security Force official said on the condition of anonymity.

In February 2007 a suicide attacker opened fire near the VIP area of the same airport before blowing himself up with a hand grenade, injuring three people. The airport is located on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi, about 12 km from Islamabad, and is outside the main security cordon for the capital.

According to the Harald Sun, security officials were carrying out a search operation at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport after receiving a warning about a possible suicide attack. "We received a call this morning that a bomb attack was expected around midday," an Islamabad airport security official said, adding that the threat was being taken "seriously".

He added: "We were already alert and have now further beefed up security at the airport."

The security boost comes just days after a massive suicide truck bombing at the Marriott Hotel in the capital on Saturday left 60 people dead and more than 260 wounded. Following the blast, the British Airways cancelled its six weekly flights to Islamabad.

ANI