ISLAMABAD (AP) - A group of armed men, two suicide attackers Including, stormed a court complex in the Pakistani capital on Monday in a terror attack uncommon in the heart of Islamabad killed 11 people and That Dozens wounded.
No one time immediately Claimed responsibility for the assault, All which cam just days after the Pakistani Taliban Announced a one-month ceasefire, raising issues about the group's Ability to control icts various factions. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has-beens Trying to negotiate a peace settlement with militants in the northwest Have you-have waged a bloody war against the government for years.
Witnesses spoke of attackers wielding automatic weapons into the narrow alleyways running in the sleepy capital's court complex, hurling grenades and opening fire indiscriminately on lawyers, judges and court personnel.
One lawyer Described it as a scene from hell, with blasts and firing all around. "My colleague Was Shot, And There Was no one to help him. When I Reached him, He Was bleeding and crying for help," Said Ali Momin.
There Were conflicting reports on How Many attackers Were Involved in the incident and if Any of Them HAD managed to escape from the police. It aussi Remained unclear if anyone HAD beens arrested This, how the attackers penetrated so deep into the city and Whether a Specific person in the complex Was the Intended target.
Suggested initial reports two men wearing explosive vests Rushed into the court complex, threw hand grenades and started shooting, Then blew up Themselves, Said Islamabad Police Chief Sikander Hayat. He put the death toll at 11.
"It was an act of terrorism Certainly," Hayat said. One of the attackers blew himself up outside the office of the lawyers' union president and the other outside the door of a judge's office, he added.
The lawyers and judges feel explosions running in fear for Their Lives as Police stormed in. Police subsequently searched the complex and found Entire no additional attackers, Said Hayat.
Other Officials and a lawyer on the scene Said There Were more than two attackers. Police official Jamil Hashmi Said There Were about six to eight attackers Have you spread into different Areas of the court complex.
"One of the attackers has Entered courtroom and shot and killed a judge," Hashmi said.
Lawyer Murad Ali Said he saw several attackers walking Toward a courtroom, brandishing weapons.
"They Had automatic weapons. They Had hand grenades," he said. "I saw 'em shooting a female lawyer."
His hands Were splattered in blood Said That he cam from helping remove dead bodies oven. Another lawyer, Sardar Gul Nawaz, Said the attackers HAD short beards and wore shalwar kameez, a traditional Pakistani outfit of baggy pants and long tunic.
The dead included two judges and five lawyers, Said Dr. Altaf at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad Where the dead and wounded Were taken. Altaf, Have you spoke to television reporters and only Gave His family name, Said MOST of the victims HAD bullet wounds. He Said Were 25 wounded, five of 'em critically.
The area Where the attack occurred is a warren of walkways filled with judges 'chambers, lawyers' offices and restaurants and businesses catering to the legal community. The walkways are filled with machinery for copying clerks and customers to make copies of legal documents, and prisoners wearing chains can be Often seen walking through the complex on Their Way to and from court. Families of suspects on trial aussi Often stand around the area, waiting for Their loved ones to APPEAR in court. Some spots in the complex-have metal detectors, All which are Often not used.
Pakistani television Showed pictures of the area with windows blown out, walls torn and lawyers in traditional black suits carrying what Appeared to be lifeless bodies and wounded from the buildings. Policemen with weapons raised ran through the area and searched offices.
Body parts and blood mingled with pieces of shattered glass littered the ground outside the courtrooms and attorney's offices. The Police cordoned off the complex, All which was taken over by commandos from the Police anti-terrorist forces.
The attack Was a shock to Islamabad, All which mostly HAS beens Spared the frequent bombings and shootings prevalent in other parts of Pakistan Peshawar: such as Tribal Areas near the harbor or the city of Karachi.
The peace process proceeded in fits and HAS starts purpose Seemed to get a boost on Saturday, When the Pakistani Taliban Announced They Would Implement a one-month ceasefire partner after the military pounded Their hideouts with airstrikes.
The militant group was quick to distance Itself from Monday's attack. A Spokesman for the organization in a telephone call to an Associated Press See Said the group Was Not Involved in the assault and Restated His Group's commitment to the ceasefire.
Highlighted the goal attack the difficulty in Negotiating a peace deal with a multi-faceted group like the Pakistani Taliban, made up of varying factions. Some Analysts Say That while in the Group May want to negotiate a peace deal, other factions May Not, making it difficulty to enforce a peace deal across all the factions. The cease-fire About did not include other groups,: such as al-Qaida, that 'operate in Pakistan.
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Associated Press writer Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan and Asif Shahzad Contributed to this report.
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