Nearly 400 prisoners including militants escaped early Sunday from a jail outside the town of Bannu after an attack by insurgents armed with guns, grenades and rockets, officials said.
More than 150 heavily-armed militants stormed the central prison outside the town of Bannu.
Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
“We attacked the Bannu prison and got our special members freed,” Ehsan told AFP.
“In a couple of days when all of them have reached their designated places we will issue details about them. At the moment I cannot give you exact numbers.”
The attack started at around 1:00 am (2000 GMT Saturday) and continued for two hours, with militants in cars and pick-up trucks shooting and lobbing grenades to force their way into the prison, a security official told AFP.
“Some 384 prisoners, including some hardcore militants, have escaped during the attack,” the official said, asking not to be named.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were some 944 prisoners in the jail according to the tally late Saturday.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told AFP there were “at least 20 dangerous prisoners and some militants”, among the escapees.
“We will investigate why militants were able to carry out such an attack successfully and what the security was doing,” he said.
Hussain said the militants blocked all roads leading to the prison to delay the arrival of any reinforcements and targeted six barracks where “dangerous insurgents” were being kept.
Security forces cordoned off the area and arrested some of the escapees, while others returned voluntarily saying they had fled to avoid the gunfire, Hussain said.
A large number of militants had recently been moved to the jail from neighbouring Kohat and Lakki Marwat prisons, which are being converted into centres to rehabilitate former insurgents, the security official said.
A former member of the airforce sentenced to death for an attack on former president Pervez Musharraf was among the escaped militants, he said.
Adnan Rasheed was convicted after a bomb planted under a bridge in Rawalpindi near Islamabad in December 2003 exploded moments after the passing of Musharraf’s motorcade. His appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.
Authorities have shut down the mobile phone network in the area and army troops along with paramilitary forces and police have launched a search operation in the area, he said.
Police confirmed the attack but did not give any figures for the escapees, saying they were still investigating.
Senior Bannu police official Iftikhar Khan told AFP that at least three police officials were wounded in the attack.
The attackers outnumbered the security forces at the prison and militants fled before reinforcements reached the jail, he said.
“Some five escapees have handed themselves over to authorities, while six others were arrested during the search,” Khan said.
Prison break: Militants attack Bannu jail, 384 inmates escape – Taliban militants have attacked a prison in north-west Pakistan, freeing at least 380 prisoners including at least 20 insurgents described by police as "very dangerous".
The fighters, armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, attacked the prison before dawn in the city of Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said police officer Shafique Khan. They fought with guards for around two hours before freeing the 380 prisoners, including at least 20 "very dangerous Taliban militants", he said.
One escaped prisoner, Adnan Rashid, was allegedly involved in an assassination attempt against former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, Mr Khan said.
The prison housed 944 inmates. Pakistan Today
It is very unfortunate episode for the stability of the country
Govt as well as security Institutions are responsible for such lapses The interior Minister should resign and should take responsibility of Security lapse if he has an iota of Democratic norms
I am sure he will not do it as it is not in the nature of Jialas to adhere to the Norms of Democracy
It's really amazing that how Pakistani security agencies watch dangerous militants even in jails.
Islam will spread rapidly ?
No wonder the world questions if we are capable of protecting our nuclear weapons. When it comes to security, we have failed miserably. Army has failed in protecting our borders. Police has failed in preventing jail breaks. Security forces have failed in protecting peoples lives. Judiciary had failed in delivering justice. Every part of govt. has failed in everything!!! Even the people have failed in bringing about change in the country. What a sad sad situation.
What you described above confirms that PAKISTAN is FAILED STATE. Let us how long it exists on map of the world
You missed one point the P.M of Pakisatn is DON Gilani who heads MULTAN DRUG CARTEL The president who is most corrupt person who violates the law od land every single. EVEN GOD cant save this country.
Dealing in drugs is a small problem when compared to the treason that gillani is committing by not protecting and defending the constitution that he took as an oath of ofice. By actively engaging in sabotaging the progress of the country, he is systematically destroying the country. Every appointment that he has made on high level has been on personal/business relationship instead of merit. He is putting his loyalties to zardar and ppp above his loyalities and obligations to the country. He is a PIR and he put his hand on QURAN and took an oath of ossice. Has he kept that promise? NO. That tells you everything you need to know about this person.
No Police casualty…..??????
Amazing
These prosnors can become candidate for JUI, PPP, MQM ticket for next election
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