2022 Bannu counterterrorism centre attack and siege
Islamist attack and special forces counter-siege in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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On 18 December 2022, the Pakistani Taliban carried out an attack on a counterterrorism centre in the Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They took the officers hostage until 20 December, when Pakistan's security forces lay siege to the centre, releasing all the hostages and killing 25 militants inside. Two officers were killed during the siege.[1]
Pakistani victory
- Pakistan regains control of Bannu CTD centre
| 2022 Siege of CTD Bannu centre | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan Army Frontier Corps |
 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Special Service Group | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | 35[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
3 killed[1] 15 wounded[1] | 25 killed[1] | ||||||
  Bannu Cantonment Location of Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  Bannu Cantonment Location of Bannu Cantt in Pakistan | |||||||
Background
Initial attack
Escape and takeover
On 18 December 2022, terrorists incarcerated at a Counter Terrorism Department facility in Bannu Cantt, Pakistan managed to escape their cells and held security personnel hostage for over 48 hours.[2][3]
A policeman and a soldier were injured when the extremists "took over the premises," according to an official source.[4] According to the Provincial government spokesperson the militant demanding the safe passage to Afghanistan via helicopter[5][6]
They took all the workers of the centre as hostages.[7]
Perpetrators
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
Reaction
During the press briefing US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, while responding to a question regarding the Bannu situation offers 'assistance' to Pakistan and says Government of Pakistan is a partner when it comes to these shared challenges, including the challenge of terrorist groups inside of Afghanistan.[8]
Siege
Outcome
On 20 December at 12:30 pm, the Special Service Group launched an operation in which all the terrorists were killed and hostages were freed. The CTD compound was cleared by 2:30 p.m.[9][10]