Incident Summary:

12/13/2008: On Saturday, in Swat, North-West Frontier, Pakistan, assailants fired on an anti-Taliban cleric and his followers, killing eight civilians, the cleric, wounding several civilians, and kidnapping 25 civilians. The assailants also set fire to residences, damaging 16. On Monday, 12/15/2008 in the same area, two of the kidnap victims were killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

GTD ID:
200812130025

When:
2008-12-13

Country:
Pakistan

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

North-West Frontier Province

City:
Swat district

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity
Specific Description The target was a Muslim cleric.
Nationality of Target Pakistan
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 25
US Hostages Unknown
Outcome Unknown
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Weapon Details
Unknown firearms were used in the attack. The exact arson set used is unknown.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 11 Fatalities / 3 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 11
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 3
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
National Counterterrorism Center, "Eight Civilians, One Religious Cleric Killed, Two Civilians Kidnapped and Killed, Several Civilians Wounded, Twenty-three Civilians Kidnapped in Armed Attack and Arson by Taliban in Swat, North-West Frontier, Pakistan," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, November 24, 2009.
BBC Monitoring South Asia, "Two Taleban Killed in Military Operation in Pakistan Tribal Area," LexisNexis Academic, Daily Times, December 17, 2008.
Hindustan Times, "Taliban Kill Rival Cleric, Eight Followers in Swat," LexisNexis Academic, Hindustan Times, December 15, 2008.