Al-Qaeda accidentally attack Pakistani Navy frigate, thinking it's a US aircraft carrier

[GBCW 397]

Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, the new group announced last week by Ayman al-Zawahiri to bolster his flagging fortunes, suffered a setback when three of its fighters were killed and seven arrested in its first ever terror attack.

Heavily armed militants attacked a naval dock in Karachi's sea port on Saturday night and targeted what they believed was an American aircraft carrier, but instead found a Pakistan Navy frigate and were overwhelmed before they could cause any damage, investigators said.

Three jihadis were killed in the attack, four were captured and another three arrested the following day on information from interrogations. Two Pakistan Navy guards were wounded in the fighting.

"It was a complete failure, they did not do any kind of damage, some were captured and we caught more, seven so far and may be more to come. They were well-equipped and came with the intention of taking a ship into their custody but they were caught in the initial stages," a senior source close to the investigation told the Telegraph.

Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, the militant group unveiled by Zawahiri last week to demonstrate his clout despite the rise of Islamic State (Isil), claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday and said former Pakistan Navy men had carried it out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11092387/Al-Qaeda-India-branchs-first-attack-ends-in-dismal-failure-as-jihadists-raid-wrong-ship.html

[GandD 5,966]

I see how that could be an honest mistake.

[Expat1 971]

I see how that could be an honest mistake.

Could happen to anyone really

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I see how that could be an honest mistake.

These were supposedly former Pakistani Navy men and they couldn't tell one of their frigates from a US aircraft carrier?

[GandD 5,966]

These were supposedly former Pakistani Navy men and they couldn't tell one of their frigates from a US aircraft carrier?

Their silhouette's pretty much the same

[Expat1 971]

These were supposedly former Pakistani Navy men and they couldn't tell one of their frigates from a US aircraft carrier?

This is just me guessing but I am thinking that the best and brightest of the group never actually go out and participate in the suicide missions

[Teddy B 17,252]

These were supposedly former Pakistani Navy men and they couldn't tell one of their frigates from a US aircraft carrier?

If I had the vision of 72 virgins dancing in my head, I'd probably attack a Buick.

[GandD 5,966]

Would they even dock one of the big 13 at foreign ports? Minus maybe whichever one's in the 7th.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If I had the vision of 72 virgins dancing in my head, I'd probably attack a Buick.

Good point.

[GBCW 397]

The Indian press is reporting different.

Al-Qaeda also said that the group had planned to strike the US fleet in the nearby region after taking over the ship PNS Zulfiqar at the naval dockyard in Karachi.

The group claimed its fighters were "given the task of taking over PNS Zulfiqar and use its missile systems to target a US fleet".

However, the veracity of the claim could not be independently verified.

A retired security official said that the idea of takingover a naval warship and using its arsenal was "far-fetched".

http://www.firstpost.com/world/three-pakistani-navy-officers-arrested-karachi-dockyard-attack-1709785.html

[JohnR! 5,495]

I'd rather have 36 pros, than 72 virgins...

If I had the vision of 72 virgins dancing in my head, I'd probably attack a Buick.

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

I see how that could be an honest mistake.

google earth mapping lied!

[rlogan 2,036]

The Indian press is reporting different.

... and it makes a Heck of a lot more sense. Former Pakistani Navy guerilas taking over a Pakistani Navy ship in order to attack a U.S. ship with it.

That is a very interesting spin the western media put on it. Was it to downplay it, as if to make the organization seem like idiots? Can't tell one ship from another?

I scoffed at the first explanation. This one is far more likely.

[Pooky 3,807]

... and it makes a Heck of a lot more sense. Former Pakistani Navy guerilas taking over a Pakistani Navy ship in order to attack a U.S. ship with it.

That is a very interesting spin the western media put on it. Was it to downplay it, as if to make the organization seem like idiots? Can't tell one ship from another?

I scoffed at the first explanation. This one is far more likely.

Well, the Indian press is far more likely to play up the seriousness of the incident, when it concerns Pakistan.

[GBCW 397]

Well, the Pakistani media (this is from a government friendly paper) has a different slant on it. No mention of the new Al Qaeda south asia branch at all. Just good ol fashioned Pakistani Taliban. No mention at all of any greater ambitions.

KARACHI: The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack on a naval dockyard on the weekend, claiming they had inside help.

...

“We claim responsibility for the attack on the navy in Karachi,” spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told AFP.

“We had support from inside the naval force for this attack. This operation was successful because of this support. We will continue targeting security forces like this in future also,” he added.

The Navy said in a statement late on Monday night that “on Saturday a group of miscreants tried to penetrate Pakistan Navy Dockyard area defences at Karachi. Pakistan Navy security personnel responded valiantly and in the ensuing encoun­ter killed two while apprehending four miscreants alive”.

...

The Taliban have already threatened a bloody response to a military offensive against insurgents in the North Waziristan tribal region on the Afghan border.

The military launched the offensive in mid-June shortly after a brazen attack on Karachi airport that left dozens dead.

...

The army says it has killed more than 900 militants and lost 82 soldiers since the start of the operation.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1130863/taliban-claim-attack-on-karachi-navy-dockyard