28 held for attack on Pak air force base

Pakistani authorities on Saturday arrested 28 suspects, including eight Afghans, a day after the deadly Taliban attack on an air force base near here that killed 42 people.

Police and security forces carried out a joint operation in Ahmedpur area, arresting owners of vehicles used in the brazen attack on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base at Badaber, six kilometres outside Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to sources, the cars used in the attack were brought from Mattani area of Peshawar, a semi-tribal belt. Police officials said at least 28 suspects had been arrested including eight Afghan nationals.

The militants had driven to the PAF base in two vehicles. The arrested owners of the vehicles are also being questioned.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said it will prepare a report of the attack. A three-member FIA team also visited the air force base where they collected evidence and recorded statements of witnesses.

The FIA will investigate how the attack took place and the weapons and explosives used. An FIR of the attack has been registered and according to the <g data-gr-id="21">Anti Terrorism</g> Department, the PAF had asked for registration of a case against unknown persons.