Delhi airport normal after firing report

After an initial firing scare, operations have returned to normalcy at the Delhi airport.
Around 1 am this morning (December 5), two sharp sounds that sounded like gunshots were heard from outside Gate No 4 of the airport.
Operations were halted for 45 minutes during which the police and CISF swept through the terminal, but no proof of firing was found. The operations resumed after an all-clear was issued. The police are continuing to investigate the cause of the scare.
The airport was already on a high alert following intelligence warning that there could be a terror
attack or a hijack ahead of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary tomorrow.
The CISF and Ministry of Civil Aviation have said that it was not a terrorist incident and that no one was killed, nor were any rounds recovered in the combing operation carried out by the CISF and Delhi Police.
A massive manhunt has been launched by Delhi and Haryana Police. A Toyota Qualis was was believed to be the vehicle from which the firing was heard. According to eye witness accounts, the sounds were two distint shots resembling those from an automatic weapon.
The Qualis has been found abandoned at the Delhi-Haryana border, while the occupants are being sought in the manhunt operation.
The Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the CISF swung into action alongwith Delhi Police immediately after the reported incident.
"We received a call that some passengers heard a sound similar to two gunshots, but there were no eyewitnesses. No evidence has so far come up to suggest that it was a firing and we cannot confirm it as a gunshot," Banerjee said.
Banerjee said, while the checking was going on, a white colour Qualis car jumped the queue and sped away adding to the confusion. Police gypsy chased the car, but lost it after some time, he added.
When asked whether the number plate was noticed, Banerjee said, "We are not really sure about the number plate but I was told it was an HR (Haryana) registration vehicle." While the car sped away, the Delhi Police and the Haryana Police have been alerted for a lookout of the white vehicle.
05/12/08 Times Now.tv

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Categories: Airports Dec 2008, Safety Dec 2008