Whoa, there's a bunch of stories all over the place regarding the attack on the police academy in Pakistan where jihadists, much in the same manner as the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, stormed the the academy and killed up to eleven cadets while now the latest report here from Breitbart states that Pakistani security forces have retaken the academy. Some reports claim that up to 40 have died in the attack and ensuing siege. Here's some of the latest report:
And here's a bit on the original attack by jihadists and subsequent events:
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but as with the Sri Lankan one, most fingers are going to point towards Lashkar-e-Taiba which was of course involved in the Mumbai massacre. But in Pakistan right now, there's a long list of jihadi groups including al Qaeda who usually has their fingers in every kind of terror. The point of all of this is that slowly but surely, the Pakistani government continues to lose control of this country. Don't forget, this is a country with nuclear weapons. I've said it before...ever since this weak-kneed government took over in Pakistan, there has been a huge uptick in terror and organized attacks - the whole time this government has sent nothing but signals of appeasement and this is what it has gotten them.
One can say all they want about the reign of Musharraf here in Pakistan but if you recall, NONE of this shit was happening when he had an iron hand on the controls of the military. I, personally, don't see any way that this government can regain control and some in the West better have some contingent plans to move in here and protect those nukes at some point in time.
A government official says Pakistani security forces have overpowered militants who attacked a police academy, arresting six.
Rao Iftikhar says eight of the gunmen died, including two who blew themselves up.
Reports on the death tolls from the assault have varied wildly, with officials confirming at least 11 to The Associated Press. Other reports said up to 40 people had died.
And here's a bit on the original attack by jihadists and subsequent events:
Pakistani soldiers killed at least four gunmen who had seized a police academy Monday in a brazen attack that killed at least 11 officers and left at least 35 police held hostage.I think what has to be stressed in this attack is that this is Lahore. This is NOT the volatile NW Tribal Areas - this is a big, big city in Pakistan and we are seeing a second wave of attacks here in less than one month.
The well-organized, highly coordinated assault came less than a month after an ambush on Sri Lanka's visiting cricket team in the heart of Lahore, underscoring the threat that militancy poses to the U.S.-allied, nuclear-armed country.
It prompted the country's top civilian security official to say that militant groups were "destabilizing the country."
Monday's attack occurred as dozens of the officers carried out morning drills at the Manawan Police Training School.
"We were attacked with bombs. Thick smoke surrounded us. We all ran in panic in different directions," said Mohammad Asif, a wounded officer taken to a hospital. He described the attackers as bearded and young.
At least 11 police officers died in the attack, police official Ali Nawaz told The Associated Press. Mobin, another police official, told the AP that at least 91 wounded police were sent to hospitals. About 700 trainee officers were inside the academy at the time.
"Some of the attackers are wearing (police) uniforms," police officer Ahsan Younus told the AP. "They have also taken some of our police as hostage."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but as with the Sri Lankan one, most fingers are going to point towards Lashkar-e-Taiba which was of course involved in the Mumbai massacre. But in Pakistan right now, there's a long list of jihadi groups including al Qaeda who usually has their fingers in every kind of terror. The point of all of this is that slowly but surely, the Pakistani government continues to lose control of this country. Don't forget, this is a country with nuclear weapons. I've said it before...ever since this weak-kneed government took over in Pakistan, there has been a huge uptick in terror and organized attacks - the whole time this government has sent nothing but signals of appeasement and this is what it has gotten them.
One can say all they want about the reign of Musharraf here in Pakistan but if you recall, NONE of this shit was happening when he had an iron hand on the controls of the military. I, personally, don't see any way that this government can regain control and some in the West better have some contingent plans to move in here and protect those nukes at some point in time.
Pakistan: Security forces retake attacked academy
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - A government official says Pakistani security forces have overpowered militants who attacked a police academy, arresting six.
Rao Iftikhar says eight of the gunmen died, including two who blew themselves up.
Reports on the death tolls from the assault have varied wildly, with officials confirming at least 11 to The Associated Press. Other reports said up to 40 people had died.
Iftikhar says he will provide a more exact death toll from the brazen assault later Monday.
The attack underscored the threat posed by militants to Pakistan's stability
Soldiers and other security forces surrounded the compound on the outskirts of the city, exchanging fire in televised scenes reminiscent of last November's militant siege of the Indian city of Mumbai. Armored vehicles entered the compound while helicopters hovered overhead. Some police tried to escape by crawling on their hands and knees around the bodies of fallen officers.
Six hours after the initial assault, police captured one of the suspected gunmen, dragging him to a field outside the academy and kicking him. Soon afterward, four loud explosions rocked the scene. Government official Rao Iftikhar said four gunmen were killed, including three by army snipers. However, roughly 11 gunmen remained holed up on the top floor of a building, holding some 35 police hostage.
Reports also emanated from inside the compound. Inspector Mohammad Akram told Express News TV by phone that he and 20 other policemen were locked in a room inside one of the buildings.
"We are hearing gunshots very close to us. We are sitting ducks. We request that please for God's sake take us out," he said in a low voice. "Everybody ran here and there and took shelter wherever they found."
Pakistan has endured scores of suicide bombings and other attacks in recent years, and it faces tremendous U.S. pressure to eradicate al-Qaida and Taliban insurgents on its soil. Most of the violence occurs along the country's northwest border with Afghanistan, but attacks have occurred in all the major cities, including in eastern Punjab province, of which Lahore is capital.
Monday's attack occurred close to the Indian border. No group immediately claimed responsibility.
The attacks pose a major threat to the weak, year-old civilian administration of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, which has been gripped with political turmoil in recent weeks. The Obama administration has warned Pakistan that militancy poses a threat to the nation's very existence, while U.S. officials complain the country's spy agencies still keep ties with some of the insurgent groups.
Pakistan's Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told state-run TV that Pakistan's police are not equipped to fight the terror wave.
"In our country, at our different borders, arms are coming in, stinger missiles are coming in, rocket launchers are coming in, heavy equipment is coming—it should be stopped," Malik said. "Obviously, whoever did this attack has attacked our country's stability."
The provincial governor, Salman Taseer, told reporters at a hospital that an army brigade had "laid a complete siege," adding that a curfew was imposed in the neighborhood.
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