Pakistan Train Horror: Gunmen in Explosive Vests Take Passengers Hostage
Pakistan terror attack horror as ‘gunmen wearing explosive vests’ take entire train hostage Twenty-seven militants were gunned down and 150 out of the 450 passengers rescued after the Jaffar Express train was hijacked when it entered a tunnel in Bolan, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Hundreds of separatist militants strapped explosives to their chests when they hijacked a moving train and took 300 people hostage in Pakistan.
Security forces were being cautious as officials said the hostages were surrounded by militants wearing vests loaded with explosives. Government spokesman Shahid Rind said Pakistani forces were being backed up by helicopters in the remote region and described the attack as “an act of terrorism.”
At least 27 militants have been killed and security forces rescued more than 150 of the 450 people who were on the train when it was hijacked on Tuesday as it entered a tunnel in Bolan, a district in restive Balochistan province. It was the first time militants have ever carried out such an attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army group has claimed responsibility for the siege, saying it was open to negotiations to swap prisoners. So far, there has been no response from the government to the offer from the insurgents. The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces, but has also in the past attacked civilians, including Chinese nationals working on multibillion-dollar projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC.
Authorities said the rescued so far included women and children, while an undisclosed number of security personnel have been killed, according to three security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to media.
According to the officials, the train was partially inside a tunnel when the militants blew up the tracks and immobilized the engine and its nine coaches. The driver was critically wounded by gunfire and guards aboard the train were attacked, although the officials gave no details on the number of guards who were aboard or their fate.
Rescued passengers were being sent to their home towns and injured were being treated at hospitals in Mach district in Balochistan. Others were taken to Quetta about 100 kilometers (62 miles) away. The train that was traveling from the provincial capital, Quetta, to the northern city of Peshawar when the attack took place.
