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On 18 December, detained militants took over the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) facility that was holding them and held the interrogators hostage while demanding a safe exit to Afghanistan. The standoff between the militants and the CTD officials continued until late evening and caused injuries to two officials. The militants fired at the policemen after escaping the lockup. Videos of the militants holding the security officials captive went viral. Another video showed one of the militants demanding a safe flight departure from Pakistan to Afghanistan for 35 of his associated who had also managed to break free. The captives later revealed a video in which one of the hostages was shown to be in wounded condition.
Meanwhile, the authorities sealed the area off and advised the residents to stay indoors. A senior government official also announced that an operation was underway and that the situation will return to normal soon. (“Militants hold CTD officials hostage in Bannu police station,” The News International, 19 December 2022; Militants seize part of Bannu CTD centre, take hostages, Dawn, 19 December 2022)
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