Homeland Security Network Blog
Militants seize counter-terrorism center in Pakistan, take hostages
Reuters
Militants seize counter-terrorism centre in Pakistan, take hostages
By Saud Mehsud and Jibran Ahmad
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Islamist militants seized a counter-terrorism centre in the northwestern Pakistani area of Bannu on Sunday and took hostages to negotiate with government authorities, officials said.
"It's not clear if the terrorists attacked from outside, or if they snatched the ammunition from staff inside" while being interrogated following their arrest, Bannu police spokesman Muhammad Naseeb told Reuters.
He said the compound had been surrounded by security forces.
Two other officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militants were looking to negotiate for safe passage to neighbouring Afghanistan, ruled by the hardline Islamist Taliban.
One said about 15 militants took control of the centre after overpowering interrogators inside, grabbing their weapons and taking five or six of them hostage.
The affiliation of the militants was not immediately known.
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