2022 Bannu counterterrorism centre attack and siege

On 18 December 2022, the Pakistani Taliban carried out an attack on a counterterrorism centre in the Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They took the officers hostage until 20 December, when Pakistan's security forces lay siege to the centre, releasing all the hostages and killing 25 militants inside. Two officers were killed during the siege.[1]

2022 Siege of CTD Bannu
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Date18 – 20 December 2022
Location32°59′52.5″N 70°36′00.2″E
Result Pakistani victory.
Pakistan regains control of Bannu CTD centre.
Belligerents
 Pakistan Army
Frontier Corps
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Units involved
Special Service Group
Strength
Unknown 35[1]
Casualties and losses
3 killed[1]
15 wounded[1]
25 killed[1]
Bannu Cantonment is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Bannu Cantonment
Bannu Cantonment
Location of Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Bannu Cantonment is located in Pakistan
Bannu Cantonment
Bannu Cantonment
Location of Bannu Cantt in Pakistan

Background

An Islamist insurgency began in 2004 in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North-West Frontier Province, which are now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Bannu was bombed in 2014 and 2018.

Initial attack

Escape and takeover

On 18 December 2022, terrorists incarcerated at a Counter Terrorism Department facility in Bannu Cantt, Pakistan managed to escape their cells and held security personnel hostage for over 48 hours.[2][3]

A policeman and a soldier were injured when the extremists "took over the premises," according to an official source.[4] According to the Provincial government spokesperson the militant demanding the safe passage to Afghanistan via helicopter[5][6]

They took all the workers of the centre as hostages.[7]

Perpetrators

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Reaction

During the press briefing US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, while responding to a question regarding the Bannu situation offers 'assistance' to Pakistan and says Government of Pakistan is a partner when it comes to these shared challenges, including the challenge of terrorist groups inside of Afghanistan.[8]

Siege

Outcome

On 20 December at 12:30 pm, the Special Service Group launched an operation in which all the terrorists were killed and hostages were freed. The CTD compound was cleared by 2:30 p.m.[9][10]

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.