Taliban militants on Sunday attacked a jail in Pakistan’s Bannu district, freeing nearly 400 militants, including one on death row for involvement in an attempt to assassinate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the police said.
“Nearly 400 prisoners escaped as result of the Taliban attack. The attackers were armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Three policemen were wounded,” a police official said, adding, “One inmate (identified as Adnan Rasheed) who escaped was on death row for involvement in an attempt to assassinate Pervez Musharraf.”
Adnan Rasheed was convicted after a bomb planted under a bridge in Rawalpindi in December 2003 exploded moments after Mr Musharraf’s motorcade had passed. His appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.
The town of Bannu is near the unruly ethnic Pashtun tribal areas close to the Afghan border. “Around 500 militants attacked the prison in the morning. They were well armed and well trained,” another police official said.
Pakistan’s Al-Qaeda-linked Taliban movement said its fighters mounted the assault, which triggered clashes. Several people were wounded. “We have freed hundreds of our comrades in Bannu in this attack. Several of our people have reached their destinations, others are on their way,” a Taliban spokesman said in a statement. Intelligence officials said the Taliban basically wanted to free Adnan Rasheed and they took along around 400 other prisoners. An intelligence official said only some of the prisoners who escaped were militants.
“There was intense gunfire and RPGs were also used,” said a jail official. Paramilitary troops and security forces surrounded Bannu Central Jail. “Of a total 944 prisoners in the jail, (at least) 384 escaped. Militants targeted six jail blocks in the attack,” he said.