Lahore: Pakistan intelligence has alerted for severe terrorist threat following indications that Taliban fighters may attempt to hijack aircrafts in the near future.
Pakistani security forces have so far foiled several bids to smuggle weapons onto aircrafts, the Daily Times reports.
On March 10, the authorities arrested a man who tried to bring a pistol and explosive material on board a Dubai-bound flight at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi.
Investigators are still trying to determine whether the arrested man had any other accomplice travelling with him on the same flight, the sources said.
On Saturday, security forces foiled another attempt to bring a weapon onboard a Karachi-bound flight at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
A disassembled pistol was recovered from the hand-carry luggage of a passenger.
Sources said the criminal had tried to bring the disassembled parts of the weapon in two separate luggage bags.
The Punjab Home Department has alerted the police and other law enforcement agencies against terrorist threats at sensitive locations across Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore.
A circular issued by the Punjab Home Department stated that a group of suicide bombers have been trained to target Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore.
The group has been provided with suicide jackets and Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIDs), it added.
ANI
First Published: Monday, March 15, 2010, 15:14