Pakistani army ends siege at police academy
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AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 31, 2009 00:00
LAHORE - Pakistan security forces overpower a group of gunmen who storm a police academy and unleash fierce gun battles in a commando-style raid that leaves at least 11 officers dead. The attack is reminiscent of the militant siege in the Indian city of Mumbai in November and the attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers earlier this month in Lahore
A group of gunmen attacked a police academy and rampaged through it for hours yesterday, throwing grenades, seizing hostages and killing at least 11 officers before being overpowered by Pakistani security forces in armored vehicles and helicopters, authorities said.
Six militants were arrested and eight others were killed in the eight-hour battle to retake the facility on the outskirts of this city in eastern Pakistan, said Rao Iftikhar, a top government official in Punjab province.
Officials said more than 90 officers were wounded by the attackers, some of whom wore police uniforms. The highly coordinated attack underscored the threat that militancy poses to the U.S.-allied, nuclear-armed country and prompted Pakistan's top civilian security official to say that militant groups were "destabilizing the country."
The attack on the Manawan Police Training School began as dozens of the officers carried out morning drills. About 700 trainees were inside at the time. "We were attacked with bombs. Thick smoke surrounded us. We all ran in panic in different directions," said Mohammad Asif, a wounded officer taken to a hospital. He described the attackers as bearded and young.
"Some of the attackers are wearing (police) uniforms," officer Ahsan Younus said. "They have also taken some of our police as hostage."
Tense standoff
TV footage showed several frightened police officers jumping over the wall of the academy to flee the attack. Some crouched behind the wall of the compound, their rifles pointed in the direction of the parade ground where police said the attack took place. Farther back, masses of security forces and civilians monitored the tense standoff, taking shelter behind security and rescue vehicles.
The forces had surrounded the compound, exchanging fire in televised scenes reminiscent of the militant siege in the Indian city of Mumbai in November and the attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers earlier this month in Lahore. Armored vehicles entered the compound while helicopters hovered overhead. At times, explosions rocked the scene. At one point, security forces cornered several militants on the top floor of a building on the compound, where the gunmen held about 35 hostages, Iftikhar said.
"The eight hours were like eight centuries," said Mohammad Salman, 23, one of the hostages. "It was like I died several times. I had made up my mind that it was all over." Police captured one of the suspected gunmen six hours after the initial assault, dragging the scruffy, bearded man to a field outside the academy and kicking him.
Iftikhar confirmed that six militants were arrested. Of the eight dead, two blew themselves up, he said, adding that he would provide a more exact death toll from the brazen assault later.
On the roof of the building where hostages were kept, an AP photographer saw body parts, blood and spent ammunition strewn about, and several police officers - apparently hostages - came out with their hands above their heads in fear. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan has endured scores of suicide bombings and other attacks in recent years, and it faces tremendous U.S. pressure to eradicate al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgents on its soil. Most of the violence occurs along the country's northwest border with Afghanistan, but attacks have occurred in all the major cities.
Attack occurred close to the Indian border. The attacks pose a major threat to the weak, year-old civilian administration of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, which has been gripped with turmoil in recent weeks. The Obama administration has warned Pakistan that militancy poses a threat to the nation's very existence, while U.S. officials complain the country's spy agencies still keep ties with some of the insurgent groups. Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told state-run TV that Pakistan's police are not equipped to fight the wave of terrorism. "In our country, at our different borders, arms are coming in - it should be stopped," Malik said. "Obviously, whoever did this attack has attacked our country's stability."
Six militants were arrested and eight others were killed in the eight-hour battle to retake the facility on the outskirts of this city in eastern Pakistan, said Rao Iftikhar, a top government official in Punjab province.
Officials said more than 90 officers were wounded by the attackers, some of whom wore police uniforms. The highly coordinated attack underscored the threat that militancy poses to the U.S.-allied, nuclear-armed country and prompted Pakistan's top civilian security official to say that militant groups were "destabilizing the country."
The attack on the Manawan Police Training School began as dozens of the officers carried out morning drills. About 700 trainees were inside at the time. "We were attacked with bombs. Thick smoke surrounded us. We all ran in panic in different directions," said Mohammad Asif, a wounded officer taken to a hospital. He described the attackers as bearded and young.
"Some of the attackers are wearing (police) uniforms," officer Ahsan Younus said. "They have also taken some of our police as hostage."
Tense standoff
TV footage showed several frightened police officers jumping over the wall of the academy to flee the attack. Some crouched behind the wall of the compound, their rifles pointed in the direction of the parade ground where police said the attack took place. Farther back, masses of security forces and civilians monitored the tense standoff, taking shelter behind security and rescue vehicles.
The forces had surrounded the compound, exchanging fire in televised scenes reminiscent of the militant siege in the Indian city of Mumbai in November and the attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers earlier this month in Lahore. Armored vehicles entered the compound while helicopters hovered overhead. At times, explosions rocked the scene. At one point, security forces cornered several militants on the top floor of a building on the compound, where the gunmen held about 35 hostages, Iftikhar said.
"The eight hours were like eight centuries," said Mohammad Salman, 23, one of the hostages. "It was like I died several times. I had made up my mind that it was all over." Police captured one of the suspected gunmen six hours after the initial assault, dragging the scruffy, bearded man to a field outside the academy and kicking him.
Iftikhar confirmed that six militants were arrested. Of the eight dead, two blew themselves up, he said, adding that he would provide a more exact death toll from the brazen assault later.
On the roof of the building where hostages were kept, an AP photographer saw body parts, blood and spent ammunition strewn about, and several police officers - apparently hostages - came out with their hands above their heads in fear. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan has endured scores of suicide bombings and other attacks in recent years, and it faces tremendous U.S. pressure to eradicate al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgents on its soil. Most of the violence occurs along the country's northwest border with Afghanistan, but attacks have occurred in all the major cities.
Attack occurred close to the Indian border. The attacks pose a major threat to the weak, year-old civilian administration of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, which has been gripped with turmoil in recent weeks. The Obama administration has warned Pakistan that militancy poses a threat to the nation's very existence, while U.S. officials complain the country's spy agencies still keep ties with some of the insurgent groups. Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told state-run TV that Pakistan's police are not equipped to fight the wave of terrorism. "In our country, at our different borders, arms are coming in - it should be stopped," Malik said. "Obviously, whoever did this attack has attacked our country's stability."