Zeenews Bureau
Islamabad, Sept 25: Days after the deadly Marriott hotel suicide bombing that left 53 dead, Islamabad is again on tenterhooks on Thursday with specific intelligence inputs coming that suicide bombers are planning to target the Benzair Bhutto international airport in the capital.
As per reports coming in, intelligence agencies believe that six Fidayeen militants have sneaked into the capital and are preparing to carry out a deadly strike at high-value targets, with the airport being the prime target.
To prevent any such incidence, air traffic to the airport has been suspended and other airports in the country have been put on high alert. The passenger lounge and the parking lot of airport have been cleared. An intensive search operation is on.
Incidentally, the militant group ‘Fidayeen-e-Islam’ that claimed to be behind the deadly Marriott Hotel bombing in Pakistan's capital threatened more attacks Wednesday, warning again that Pakistanis should stop cooperating with the United States.
In a cell phone message to reporters, the little known group calling it "Fedayeen al-Islam" — "Islam commandos" — referred to the owner of the Marriott by name.
"All those who will facilitate Americans and NATO crusaders like (owner Sadruddin) Haswani, they will keep on receiving the blows," said the message, which was in English.
It was impossible to verify the identity of the group or say whether it was in a position to make good on the threat. Pakistani officials were not immediately available for comment.
The group demanded that Pakistan break with Washington in an earlier message that claimed responsibility for Saturday's truck bombing at the Marriott in Islamabad, a blast that killed 53 people and wounded more than 270.
Little or nothing is known about the group. Pakistani officials suspect al-Qaida or Taliban militants carried out the bombing.
The attack underscored the threat posed by Islamic extremists, many of whom are based in the lawless, tribal regions along northwestern Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
First Published: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 00:00