Above: Child from Pakistan

The men took the captives in Bannu district, North West Frontier Province (Warzistan), after fleeing police. We are advised that these criminals are not officially affiliated with any known terrorist or military organisation. They negotiated the childrens release with the tribal council in the area (Jirga). Local Tv reports say that the hostage takers only released the children after they were promised safe passage. These militants initially took a health official and his driver but when followed by police turned to the school for cover and hostage opportunities.

This is not the first time that health workers have suffered in Pakistan, 11 health workers administering vaccinations in Islamabad were kidnapped and beated for hours, accused by the locals of being involved in a US plot to sterilise the local children.

“We have suspended the vaccination drive in Charming area after our vaccination team was kidnapped and beaten up by armed men there,” local health director Chiragh Hussain Shah told AFP. August, 2008.

Below: Ambulance shot!