Pakistan security forces kill 'facilitator' of Peshawar massacre
Iran Press TV
Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:54AM GMT
A Taliban commander who allegedly facilitated the December 16 Peshawar school massacre has been killed by Pakistani security forces.
The militant, dubbed Saddam, died during a gunfight with security forces in the Khyber tribal area, northwestern Pakistan, on Thursday night, the area's top administrative official, Shahab Ali Shah, said on Friday.
"Commander Saddam was a dreaded terrorist, who was killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces in Jamrud town of Khyber tribal region," Shah said, adding, "Six of his accomplices were injured and arrested."
Saddam is believed to have facilitated the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, where over 140 people, including 132 children, were killed by Taliban militants.
The commander belonged to the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and was behind several recent attacks on security forces that had resulted in heavy casualties, Shah said.
The TTP has claimed responsibility for the Peshawar attack, saying it was in retaliation against a major military offensive in Pakistan's tribal belt.
The Pakistani army launched an operation against militant hideouts in North Waziristan in June after a deadly raid on Karachi Airport ended the government's faltering peace talks with pro-Taliban militants.
Pakistan's army claims it has killed over 1,600 militants so far, while losing 126 of its own soldiers.
GMA/HSN/KA
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