Terrorists seize CTD facility in Bannu, take hostages | The Express Tribune

Terrorists seized a counter-terrorism centre in Bannu on Sunday and took hostages to negotiate with the government authorities, officials said.

“It’s not clear if the terrorists attacked from outside, or if they snatched the ammunition from staff inside” while being interrogated following their arrest, Bannu police spokesman Muhammad Naseeb told Reuters.

He said the compound had been surrounded by security forces.

Two other officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the terrorists were looking to negotiate for safe passage to neighbouring Afghanistan, ruled by Afghan Taliban.

Read more: Pakistan won’t tolerate TTP’s cross-border terrorism, reserves right for direct action: FM Bilawal

One said about 15 militants took control of the centre after overpowering interrogators inside, grabbing their weapons and taking five or six of them hostage.

The affiliation of the terrorists was not immediately known.

Pakistan has been fighting an insurgency by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The TTP associates itself with Afghanistan’s Taliban, which had been trying to broker talks between the Pakistani government and the TTP.

A spokesman for the TTP did not immediately confirm or deny a link with the militants in the compound.

‘Situation completely under control’

However, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Special Assistant for Information Barrister Saif has denied that CTD facility had been attacked in Bannu, saying that some suspects attempted to snatch weapons from the security forces.

He said that the situation was “completely under control” and security forces have cordoned off the affected area.

Saif said that an operation was underway against the miscreants which will be completed soon.

(With input from News Desk)