Prison break threat in Peshawar triggers red alert

Published February 25, 2014
Sources have confirmed that a group of five suicide bombers with an explosive-laden Toyota Corolla Car were dispatched to Peshawar to target Central Jail Peshawar in order to free Taliban inmates held in captivity.     — File photo
Sources have confirmed that a group of five suicide bombers with an explosive-laden Toyota Corolla Car were dispatched to Peshawar to target Central Jail Peshawar in order to free Taliban inmates held in captivity. — File photo

PESHAWAR: Officials sources on Tuesday disclosed that a major attack on Central Jail Peshawar was planned to free key Taliban prisoners kept there.

Sources have confirmed that a group of five suicide bombers with an explosive-laden Toyota Corolla Car were dispatched to Peshawar to target Central Jail Peshawar in order to free Taliban inmates held in captivity.

Following the interception of the threat a red alert was issued to the intelligence and law enforcement agencies who were instructed to be vigilant in order to avert any attack.

The security is already on high alert at the Central Jail Peshawar which houses alleged US spy Dr Shakeel Afridi and a number of other high profile Taliban prisoners.

Dr Shakeel's cell, inside the jail, is also guarded by special force commandos and army is also deployed on the premises to avert any terrorist attack.

Grenade disarmed The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) on Tuesday disarmed a hand grenade found near the Iranian consulate in Peshawar.

It was found on the railway tracks near the Iranian Consulate in the University Town area during a search operation.

A new squad, comprising 29 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, was deployed in the area early in the morning after yesterday’s suicide attack on the Iranian Consulate which killed three paramilitary soldiers and wounded ten others.

A spokesman for militant commander Mast Gul had claimed responsibility of yesterday’s suicide attack.

Following the operation today, BDS declared the area clear.

Terrorists to be included in 'wanted list'

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police has decided to include terrorists in the list of 'wanted criminals' and a request was sent to the provincial government to fix bounty on these persons, according to Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Nasir Khan Durrani.

Speaking to media representatives in Police Lines, IG KP police said militants would have to be tackled according to a tactical plan and added that certain laws would also have to be legislated in this regard.

He further said militants have to be identified from within their own ranks as they share the same appearance and customs.

The IG said security forces’ personnel had carried out assaults on militants and the impact would take place in Peshawar.

While providing statistics, Durrani said during the past six months 79 policemen were killed, 57 attempts of terrorism thwarted and 282 explosives were defused while 144 militants were arrested and 25 militants had been killed in police encounters.

Furthermore, the IG claimed that evidence of yesterday’s suicide attack near Iranian consulate was collected and the probe into the incident would reach a definitive conclusion soon.

“To win this war, we need to unite and act according to the plan,” the IG said.

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