25 militants killed in Pakistan army raid on detention centre
Pakistan's security forces killed 25 of 35 militants holed up in a counter-terrorism centre in the northwestern city of Bannu, while one hostage and two commandos died in the operation to retake the compound, the Pakistan army said.
Militants being held at the centre took control of the compound on Sunday after overpowering their interrogators and taking their arms, leading to a two day siege and ultimately army commandoes storming the compound on Tuesday.
Pakistan's army spokesperson Major General Ahmed Sharif speaking to local TV channel Geo News late on Tuesday said 7 of the 35 holed up militants surrendered, and another 3 who tried to escape were arrested. One hostage, a security official, died during the raid , he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said all of the militants had been killed and all hostages rescued, but later clarified that the army would provide the final figures and details of the operation.
Pakistan army spokesman's comments provided the first detailed official account of the standoff, in which two security personnel were killed when the militants first took over the compound, and two commandoes killed in the ensuing raid.
Major General Ahmed Sharif said one militant was able to first overpower his interrogator with a brick and seize his weapon. Later other militants at the centre broke into a storeroom where confiscated arms had been stored.
'We tried very hard to get them (militants) to surrender unconditionally. They weren't ready,' Major General Ahmed Sharif said, adding that they wanted safe passage to Afghanistan, which was rejected by authorities.
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