Police free hostages, push back Taliban raid
Source: Agencies |
July 17, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTANI Taliban attacked an office of the security force's intelligence agency in the country's northwest yesterday, taking several hostages before police stormed the building and ended the siege, police said.
The attack took place in the city of Bannu just outside of the militant stronghold of North Waziristan in the rugged tribal region near the border with Afghanistan.
Police official Zeenatullah Khan said police cordoned off the building and exchanged fire with the attackers. The roughly five-hour siege ended after police stormed the building and rescued the hostages.
Initial reports indicated that one police officer was killed in the attack, but police official Zahid Khan from Bannu said no police died. Three were wounded, he said.
He said security forces caught two of the attackers while another was killed by police gunshots and a fourth exploded his suicide vest.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. "They are our fighters. They are fighting. There are two suicide bombers," said Ahsanullah Ahsan, a Taliban spokesman.
Because of Bannu's proximity to North Waziristan, militant fighters often launch attacks on Pakistani government facilities in the city and then retreat back into the tribal region where it is almost impossible for the security forces to track them.
Meanwhile, Pakistani health officials have launched a nationwide anti-polio vaccination drive intended to protect the country's children from the potentially paralyzing disease. But vaccinations will not be given in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan after top Taliban commanders there banned the vaccinations until the United States stops drone attacks in the region.
Pakistan is one of only three countries where the disease is endemic.
The government, teaming up with United Nations agencies, is on a nationwide campaign to give oral polio drops to 34 million children under the age of five.
The attack took place in the city of Bannu just outside of the militant stronghold of North Waziristan in the rugged tribal region near the border with Afghanistan.
Police official Zeenatullah Khan said police cordoned off the building and exchanged fire with the attackers. The roughly five-hour siege ended after police stormed the building and rescued the hostages.
Initial reports indicated that one police officer was killed in the attack, but police official Zahid Khan from Bannu said no police died. Three were wounded, he said.
He said security forces caught two of the attackers while another was killed by police gunshots and a fourth exploded his suicide vest.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. "They are our fighters. They are fighting. There are two suicide bombers," said Ahsanullah Ahsan, a Taliban spokesman.
Because of Bannu's proximity to North Waziristan, militant fighters often launch attacks on Pakistani government facilities in the city and then retreat back into the tribal region where it is almost impossible for the security forces to track them.
Meanwhile, Pakistani health officials have launched a nationwide anti-polio vaccination drive intended to protect the country's children from the potentially paralyzing disease. But vaccinations will not be given in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan after top Taliban commanders there banned the vaccinations until the United States stops drone attacks in the region.
Pakistan is one of only three countries where the disease is endemic.
The government, teaming up with United Nations agencies, is on a nationwide campaign to give oral polio drops to 34 million children under the age of five.
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