Skip to main content
Pakistan

Rebels surrender after taking guards hostage

Islamic fighters who took their guards hostage in north-west Pakistan Saturday have surrendered, the army said.

Advertising

"The situation has been brought under complete control, the two sentries taken hostages have been recovered. The terrorists have surrendered," military spokesperson Major General Athar Abbas told the AFP news agency.

According to early reports, the Islamists were taken into custody when they tried to storm a secure area near the US embassy in Peshawar but overcame their guards and took them hostage in a 10-hour standoff.

Peshawar police chief Liaqat Ali told reporters that four rebels had seized their guards' weapons and started shooting, injuring a guard.

Police initially said a number of insurgents tried to get into a secure area close to the US consulate and army buildings but the military said there had been no attack from
outside.

The attempted escape came just hours after security officials said a US drone strike killed four Pakistani Taliban in a tribal area near the Afghan border south-west of
Peshawar.

A roadside remote control bomb on Monday killed two anti-Taliban militiamen in Mattni on the outskirts of Peshawar and wounded five others, police said.
 

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.