A hostage situation is currently underway after suspected Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants seized a military counterterrorism headquarters in the Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
It remains unclear how the situation unfolded as some reports indicate militants attacked and breached the compound from the outside, while others suggest militants being held staged a breakout and took weapons from security forces inside. So far local media have reported several casualties.
Unbelievable: Jihadists who managed to gain complete control of the counterterrorism department inside the Bannu Cantt release a video threatening the Pakistan govt, asking it to arrange a safe flight for them to Afghanistan or have the captured Pakistan army officers killed. pic.twitter.com/z3HvCGKpK0
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) December 18, 2022
A video circulating online purportedly taken from inside the compound shows militants holding a Pakistani official hostage and demanding safe passage to Afghanistan. It remains unknown how many hostages are being held, but the militants have threatened to execute them if their demands are not met.
The incident comes a month after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani government, which has seen a significant increase in attacks in the Kyber region over the past several weeks.
