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Pakistan Hostage Crisis Ends

Captors described as local criminals, not al-Qaeda or Taliban

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 28, 2008 1:05 PM CST

(Newser) – A hostage situation in northwest Pakistan ended peacefully today after gunmen took at least 30 schoolchildren and teachers captive, CNN reports. The hostages were released unharmed and their captors were handed over to a court of tribal elders. Earlier reports said that up to 250 students and teachers were held, but Pakistani police said that most of them were able to escape the captors.

Pakistan’s interior minister described the gunmen as local criminals out for profit, not Islamist extremists. They had allegedly tried to kidnap a local health official for ransom when police engaged them in a firefight, causing them to seek shelter in the school, and take the hostages in an attempt to secure safe passage from the area.

An armored police car is seen parked outside a school where a gang of criminals who had taken dozens of school children and teachers hostage in Bannu, Pakistan Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. Gunmen released unharmed dozens of students after a chase and firefight with police. (AP Photo/Ijaz Mohammad)
An armored police car is seen parked outside a school where a gang of criminals who had taken dozens of school children and teachers hostage in Bannu, Pakistan Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. Gunmen released unharmed...   (Associated Press)
A police armored car parked outside a school where school children and teachers were taken hostage in Bannu, Pakistan on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Ijaz Mohammad)
A police armored car parked outside a school where school children and teachers were taken hostage in Bannu, Pakistan on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Ijaz Mohammad)   (Associated Press)
Police armored cars parked outside a school where school children and teachers were taken hostage in Bannu, Pakistan on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Ijaz Mohammad)
Police armored cars parked outside a school where school children and teachers were taken hostage in Bannu, Pakistan on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Ijaz Mohammad)   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
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One of the gunmen was killed in the earlier altercation with police
New York Times

Pakistan must obey the tribal council on the gunmen's fate
Associated Press

 
Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • hostage

 
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