PESHAWAR: Security agencies on Monday revealed that they have arrested six ‘terrorists’ suspected of involvement in the Peshawar Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) attack which took place earlier this month during raids in the areas bordering Charsadda and Mohmand Agency.
Suicide jackets and explosive material were recovered from the possession of the six suspects allegedly linked to a sub-group of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Swat faction. The main culprit behind the attack remains absconding despite raids being conducted by security forces in Bajaur Agency, where he was reported to have been present.
Three terrorists dressed in burqas stormed the ATI hostel situated near Peshawar’s University Road on Dec 1, killing nine people and injuring 37 others.
The attack was claimed by the TTP. Both police and military officials said the attackers had been coordinating with handlers based in Afghanistan.
At least nine suspects were arrested during a pre-dawn search operation carried out by law-enforcement agencies on the outskirts of Peshawar the day after the attack.