Militants remained in control of the detention centre of Bannu’s Counter-terrorism Department (CTD) in the city’s well-guarded cantonment area since Sunday afternoon, with no breakthrough in sight as of the filing of this report.
A day earlier (Sunday 18 December), between 30 to 35 suspected terrorists detained inside the centre took the officers hostage, and demanded safe passage to neighbouring Afghanistan.
Currently the confirmed news on the #Bannu incident is as follows:
The hostage situation by THIRTY FIVE (35) terrorist, continues at CTD Police Station inside Bannu Cantonment. The incident began after militants that were being interrogated by the CTD gained control of one of pic.twitter.com/CxOGXeMs6L
— The Intel Consortium (@INTELPSF) December 18, 2022
Speaking to the media, Special Assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, and spokesman for the KP Government, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said there was no breakthrough so far in the ongoing talks.
He also confirmed the death of one of the security men present inside the compound, without revealing further.
Meanwhile, Barrister Saif posted on Twitter that the situation was under the control of police and security agencies, asking public to not pay attention to any speculation. He also made it clear that the government won’t fulfil demand any demand put forth by the militants.
بنوں کینٹ میں صورتحال پولیس اور سیکیورٹی اداروں کے کنٹرول میں ہے۔عوام پریشان نہ ہوں اور افواہوں پر کان نہ دھریں۔ سی ٹی ڈی مرکز بنوں پر باہر سے کوئی حملہ نہیں ہوا۔ زیرحراست دہشتگردوں نے ہتھیار چھین کر چند پولیس اہلکاروں کو یرغمال بنایا۔ حکومت دہشتگردوں کی کوئی ڈیمانڈ پوری نہیں کرے
— Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif (@BaristerDrSaif) December 19, 2022
The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly claimed that its militants were responsible for overpowering their “captors” in a “secret detention facility” in Bannu.
#TTP spokesman releases statement on #BannuCantt hostage incident; while TTP does not claim responsibility for the attack, it justifies actions of "helpless" militants being kept in "secret detention centers" & blames #PakistanArmy if hostages are killed. https://t.co/g0GLY7B3cC
— Shemrez Nauman Afzal (@shemrez) December 19, 2022
Security personnel cordoned off the facility — which is located inside the cantonment area — and told the public to remain indoors.
Electricity, along with internet and cellular services, were also shut following the incident yesterday.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly
