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Suspects, possibly including Binalshibh still in Pakistan
Karachi, Sept 14: Suspected al-Qaida members, possibly including Sept 11 plotter Ramzi Binalshibh, were still in Pakistani custody today at a well-guarded safe house in Karachi, an army officer said.
Karachi, Sept 14: Suspected al-Qaida members, possibly including Sept 11 plotter Ramzi Binalshibh, were still in Pakistani custody today at a well-guarded safe house in Karachi, an army officer said.
Pakistani officials refused to confirm the identities of the men they captured in a four-hour shootout on Wednesday -the anniversary of the attacks in the United States - or to say whether one of the world's most-wanted men was among them. Two militants also were killed, but officials have not released their identities.
A senior army officer said that he visited the interrogation center where at least some of the captives were being held after midnight yesterday and saw two of them. He did not say who they were.
Security was intense at the safe house, he said. Visitors were being stripped of their mobile phones or any other means of communication as they entered.
The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all those detained Wednesday were still in Pakistan.
Police said that after the raid five men had been captured, but President Pervez Musharraf said in a television interview that 10 people had been taken into custody in the raid.
Musharraf, who was in the US to attend the UN General Assembly, told a private TV channel yesterday that one Egyptian, one Saudi and eight Yemenis were arrested in connection with the raid.
US officials in Washington said that Binalshibh, the former roommate of hijacker Mohammed Atta - believed to be among the main planners of last year's attacks - was captured in the joint operation by Pakistani and US intelligence officers.
Pakistani officials refused to confirm the identities of the men they captured in a four-hour shootout on Wednesday -the anniversary of the attacks in the United States - or to say whether one of the world's most-wanted men was among them. Two militants also were killed, but officials have not released their identities.
A senior army officer said that he visited the interrogation center where at least some of the captives were being held after midnight yesterday and saw two of them. He did not say who they were.
Security was intense at the safe house, he said. Visitors were being stripped of their mobile phones or any other means of communication as they entered.
The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all those detained Wednesday were still in Pakistan.
Police said that after the raid five men had been captured, but President Pervez Musharraf said in a television interview that 10 people had been taken into custody in the raid.
Musharraf, who was in the US to attend the UN General Assembly, told a private TV channel yesterday that one Egyptian, one Saudi and eight Yemenis were arrested in connection with the raid.
US officials in Washington said that Binalshibh, the former roommate of hijacker Mohammed Atta - believed to be among the main planners of last year's attacks - was captured in the joint operation by Pakistani and US intelligence officers.
Bureau Report