PAKISTAN: An armed man demanding the establishment of Islamic rule in Pakistan is arrested after a dramatic standoff with security personnel in the heart of Islamabad

Record ID: 376785

  • Title: PAKISTAN: An armed man demanding the establishment of Islamic rule in Pakistan is arrested after a dramatic standoff with security personnel in the heart of Islamabad
  • Date: 15th August 2013
  • Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 15, 2013) (REUTERS) CAR OF GUNMAN PARKED ON MAIN THOROUGHFARE ABOUT 600 METRES FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE GUNMAN FIRING SHOTS FROM CAR GUNMAN WALKING OUT OF CAR, GESTURING TOWARDS POLICE CAR WITH HIS GUN WOMAN STANDING BESIDE OPEN DOOR OF CAR/ PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VISIBLE IN THE BACKGROUND GUNMAN AND WOMAN WALKING OUT OF CAR GUNMAN TALKING TO
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAF20AX2OKSG5ZW47ABA52ZWP10
  • Story Text: An armed man demanding the establishment of Islamic rule in Pakistan opened fire in the heart of Islamabad on Thursday (August 15) and was arrested more than five hours later after a dramatic standoff with police that was broadcast live on television.
    Arriving as night fell, the man drove a car which also contained two children and a woman believed to be his wife, into the tightly guarded city centre, stopping near the president's official residence and firing into the air.
    Security has been tight in the city after police received an alert about possible attacks by militants operating from the tribal areas on Pakistan's lawless border with Afghanistan.
    The man, armed with two automatic rifles, seemed confused in his demands, firing random shots into the air as hundreds of onlookers gathered in Jinnah Avenue, paralyzing a central thoroughfare.
    During the ensuing standoff with police, the woman walked back and forth from the car carrying messages from the gunman to dozens of police officials waiting a few yards away.
    Periodic gunshots rang out in the air as the man apparently rejected police demands of laying down his arms before they would talk to him.
    He was arrested several hours later after again firing into the air as a senior politician approached him for negotiations.
    Both the gunman and the woman were wounded.
    The gunman appeared to act on his own with no clear political agenda but questions were asked about how a lone armed attacker managed to paralyze the city centre and cause a standoff with an anti-terrorist unit.
    Checkpoints and police armed with assault rifles dot many access points in Islamabad, where attacks have become rare since the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel.
    Security has been tightened further in recent weeks, particularly in the centre where most ministries and embassies are located.
    Last week, the U.S. government ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff from its consulate in the northeastern Pakistani city of Lahore due to the threat of attack
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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