Militants attack Bannu jail, 400 inmates escape

[Peshwa]

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Militants attack Bannu jail, 400 inmates escape | DAWN.COM

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Nearly 400 prisoners escaped from a jail in northwest Pakistan early on Sunday after it was attacked by militants armed with guns and rocket propelled grenades, a senior police official said.

Some of those who fled the jail in the town of Bannu, near Pahstun tribal areas close to the Afghan border, were militants, an intelligence official said.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which has close links to al Qaeda, said its fighters mounted the assault, which triggered clashes. Several people were wounded.

“We have freed hundreds of our comrades in Bannu in this attack. Several of our people have reached their destinations, others are on their way,” said a Taliban spokesman.

The claim could not be immediately verified.

If the Taliban freed the prisoners, it could deal a psychological blow to Pakistani security forces, who say they have made gains against militants through a series of attacks on their strongholds.

Police and intelligence officials said only some of the prisoners who escaped were militants.

“Dozens of militants attacked Bannu’s central jail in the early hours of the morning, and over 300 prisoners have escaped,” senior police official Mir Sahib Jan told Reuters.

“There was intense gunfire, and rocket-propelled grenades were also used.”

Paramilitary troops and security forces surrounded Bannu Central Jail. Of a total 944 prisoners in the jail, 384 escaped, said another police official.

Militants apparently targeted six jail blocks in the attack, he said.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or Taliban Movement of Pakistan, is fighting to topple the US-backed Islamabad government.

Major suicide bombings have eased in recent months, suggesting either security crackdowns have weakened the group, or it has changed tactics.

[Safriz]

Yes heard that on the news...You can guess how least Bothered we Pakistanis are by the release of 400 Inmates...
Because an Inmate is already our President,and another is Prime minister.
The 400 poor runaway inmates cant do any worse than these two...Thank you.

[humanfirst]

And there was no casuality of even a single police/prison guard!!Did they all ran away at the first sight of TTP?

[Sher Malang]

Taliban Fighters Attack Prison in Pakistan


Associated Press

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan—Close to 150 Taliban fighters armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked a prison in northwest Pakistan before dawn Sunday, freeing hundreds of prisoners, including some suspected militants, police said.

The prison was located in the city of Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police officer Shafique Khan said. The fighters freed 380 prisoners. At least 20 of them were "very dangerous Taliban militants," including one, Adnan Rashid, who was allegedly involved in an assassination attempt against former President Pervez Musharraf, Khan said.

A Taliban spokesman, Asimullah Mehsud, said their fighters freed 1,200 members of the group. The group is known to make exaggerated claims.

The Pakistani Taliban have waged a bloody war against the government over the past several years that has killed thousands of Pakistani officials and typical citizens.

The Pakistani military has launched a series of operations against the group in the northwest, where it is strongest. Soldiers and police have arrested scores of suspected militants over this period.

—Copyright 2012 Associated Press

Source: Taliban Fighters Attack Prison in Pakistan - WSJ.com

This reminds me the Kandahar prison escape but I hope they get/kill these bastards ASAP.

[cb4]

These jailed militants were crushed by Pak army. They wouldn't dare to risk their lives again unless someone enforces heavy material.

[Ignited Mind]

Oh God!

God knows how many people gave their lives to arrest these people.

[Ignited Mind]

Yes heard that on the news...You can guess how least Bothered we Pakistanis are by the release of 400 Inmates...
Because an Inmate is already our President,and another is Prime minister.
The 400 poor runaway inmates cant do any worse than these two...Thank you.

lol C'mon. Zardari is an okay guy. At least Gilani is. Besides, they are both, in effect, powerless so it doesn't really matter.

[Ignited Mind]

One can only imagine what these 400 terrorists will do now.

[raavan]

LAANAT HAI

[faizahmad]

Taliban attack prison in Pakistan, free militants - The Times of India

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Nearly 400 prisoners escaped from a jail in northwest Pakistan early on Sunday after it was attacked by Islamist militants armed with guns and rocket propelled grenades, a senior police official said.

Some of those who fled the jail in the town of Bannu, near unruly ethnic Pahstun tribal areas close to the Afghan border, were militants, an intelligence official said.

Pakistan's al-Qaida-linked Taliban movement, which has close links to al-Qaida, said its fighters mounted the assault, which triggered clashes. Several people were wounded.

"We have freed hundreds of our comrades in Bannu in this attack. Several of our people have reached their destinations, others are on their way," a Taliban spokesman said.

The claim could not be immediately verified. If the al-Qaida-linked Taliban freed the prisoners, it could deal a psychological blow to Pakistani security forces following government assertions that security crackdowns have weakened the group.

While the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan have staged several jailbreaks, such operations are rare in Pakistan, one of the most unstable countries in the world.

Pakistan is seen as critical to US efforts to stabilise Afghanistan. Yet the South Asian nation faces its own major security challenges.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Taliban Movement of Pakistan, is seen as the biggest threat, staging suicide bombings and shootings in a drive to impose its harsh version of Islam in the nuclear-armed country.

Major suicide bombings have eased in recent months, but it is unclear whether that is due to military gains or a shift in Taliban tactics.

A loose alliance of a dozen groups, the TTP began its battle against the state in 2007, after a bloody army raid on Islamabad's Red Mosque, which was controlled by its allies.

Police and intelligence officials said only some of the prisoners who escaped were militants.

"Dozens of militants attacked Bannu's central jail in the early hours of the morning, and over 300 prisoners have escaped," senior police official Mir Sahib Jan told Reuters.

"There was intense gunfire, and rocket-propelled grenades were also used."

Paramilitary troops and security forces surrounded Bannu Central Jail. Of a total 944 prisoners in the jail, 384 escaped, said another police official.

Militants apparently targeted six jail blocks in the attack, he said.

The Pakistani Taliban are closely linked with the Afghan Taliban. They move back and forth across the porous border, exchange intelligence, and provide shelter for each other in a region US President Barack Obama has described as "the most dangerous place in the world".

[Invincible INDIAN]

If OBL can stay in heavy militarized zone for couple of years and US can take him away without any confrontation with PA. Everything is possible in Pakistan.

All these actions restricts foreign investors to invest in war torn country. Even I can't see any change in near future.

[rajnikant]

there has to b some limits...to this jungle rule..Police cant protect themselves (read Prison) how can u xpect them to protect common man..then they argue this and that country is not visiting them..how can anyone ????

[faizahmad]

If OBL can stay in heavy militarized zone for couple of years and US can take him away without any confrontation with PA. Everything is possible in Pakistan.

All these actions restricts foreign investors to invest in war torn country. Even I can't see any change in near future.

I Agree With You dude -- 400+ is quite a big num , seems like north western provinces of pk are controlled by extremists.

[Awesome]

I have heard the number is close to 800

[faizahmad]

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I have heard the number is close to 800

Then those 800 will definetly contribute by joining extrimist forces . govt should take some measures untill it getz too late.