DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Taliban commanders say they have managed to smuggle over two dozen militants they broke out of a prison in Dera Ismail Khan to one of the group's strongholds in the country's tribal regions.
The two commanders told media by phone on Wednesday that 25 militants had arrived in the South Waziristan tribal area
They said Monday night's jailbreak in the town of Dera Ismail Khan was codenamed Freedom from Death, cost 11.5 million rupees ($115,000) and took six months to plan. Eighteen of the 150 militants who took part were given special commando training.
Police official Salahuddin Kundi said 41 of the 252 prisoners who escaped have been re-arrested.
Dozens of Taliban militants armed with guns, grenades and bombs attacked the Central Jail in Dera Ismail Khan, freeing more than 250 prisoners, including 25 "dangerous terrorists."
The militants also killed six policemen, six prisoners and two civilians during the attack.
Similary in April 2012, Taliban militants armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades battled their way into a prison in Bannu, freeing close to 400 prisoners, including at least 20 described by police as "very dangerous" insurgents.
A senior Taliban official told Reuters separately the latest attack was masterminded by Adnan Rashid, a Taliban commander who was himself freed in last year's prison break.
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