siege siege code named operation sunrise confrontation july islamic government pakistan led president prime minister focal points operation red mosque complex pakistan january adjacent operated islamic led brothers organisation advocated islamic religious law pakistan openly called overthrow pakistani government constant conflict authorities months prior military operation engaged violent demonstrations destruction property kidnapping arson armed clashes authorities set fire building attacked guarded military responded siege complex began complex besieged july negotiations attempted state negotiations failed complex stormed captured operation resulted deaths captured prompted pro rebels border month old peace agreement event triggered war marked surge violence pakistan resulted casualties background prior founded english translates derived red colour mosque walls interiors taught radical islam preached soviet invasion afghanistan founding frequented leaders pakistani military government army chief staff later president seizing power coup état close associate mosque located near headquarters pakistan staff members known prayers soviet war afghanistan ended mosque continued function centre radical islamic learning housed thousand male female students adjacent assassinated mosque death sons assumed responsibility entire complex brothers admitted having regular communication wanted leaders including women located near largest islamic religious institution women world students constructed assassination supervision passed son students taught general subjects including mathematics geography tested subjects exams religious subjects following september attacks united_states pakistani president announced support led war terror declaration sparked conflict leadership openly denied having links banned terrorist organisations opposed war terror conflict afghanistan openly condemned opposed pakistani security forces including police mosque source speeches calling assassination speeches delivered group members later involved failed attempts kill president july pakistani authorities attempted raid mosque connection investigation july london bombings police blocked wielding female students raid authorities apologised behaviour police half students mosque leaders continued challenge pakistani government authority calling islamic law end operation united_states launched anti vice campaign kidnapping alleged prostitutes burning films students affiliated launched campaign occupying nearby children library embarking raids capital stop called islamic activities dvd vendors barber shops chinese run accused students mosque bordering afghanistan confrontation took place mosque launched campaign demolition illegally constructed mosque destroyed students launched campaign government blocked authorities reaching site occupied nearby children library building carried primarily female students students set clock promised fight death government threatened situation authorities opened negotiations government later reconstructed demolished portions mosque compound leadership demanded reconstruction demolished capital city march female students kidnapped women accused running seized policemen women released supposedly running shown television wearing chinese ambassador interview talk capital talk students claimed connections influential government employees specifically naming minister railways neighbourhood police station allegedly prior knowledge approved april established court parallel pakistan federal judicial system pledged thousands suicide attacks government attempted close students continued occupy library challenge governmental control raiding kidnapped chinese nationals law enforcement officials women children approach taken pakistani government dealing mosque issues led accusations felt soft exchanging fire pakistani troops students set fire building near minister environment stated requested security building authorities failed provide contrary claims earlier said ministry ordered vacate premises deployed timeline siege july battle erupted pakistani security forces students law enforcement agencies extended riot police fired tear gas disperse students fighting continued leaving people dead approximately injured dead mosque students news channel businessman pedestrian minutes security forces closed area capital hospitals declared emergency sporadic clashes continued troops deployed area day authorities announced indefinite located army received orders shoot leaving mosque weapons government offered equivalent plus free education exiting mosque unarmed women inside mosque offered safe passage homes successive extended mosque leaders allowed students surrender requiring security forces extensions government authorities announced deadline occupants surrender pakistan standard time pushed government said armed remained inside mosque dawn july pakistani troops set series explosions mosque gunfire exchanged day open clashes apparently stopped deadline extensions continued july government planning evacuate mosque final assault interior minister announced press conference government believed students remained mosque considered following fourth deadline captured trying escape disguised woman wearing following capture leader male students female students surrendered authorities younger brother negotiating government claimed remaining students willing leave mosque lay arms provided government grant amnesty fire government officials honour agreement telephone interview live transmission denied charges reiterated innocence negotiated government safe passage guarantee harm come followers inside mosque received promise ailing mother receive medical care siege continued july negotiation talks continued besieged administration government authorities resolution additional students surrendered authorities students killed shooting incident government decided delay assault hoping safe evacuation students besieged mosque president issued ultimatum evening july pakistani army took operation replaced paramilitary troops deployed premises thirteen year old child escaped besieged mosque unharmed pakistani raided outer perimeter compound blasting holes walls mosque allow trapped women children escape assaults began shortly july met heavy armed resistance commander col islam leading operation wounded july died hospital days later succeeded boundary wall collapsed said surrender sufficient ammunition rations month july group representing pakistani headed called immediate cessation operation finland temporarily closed embassy july deteriorating security situation proximity embassy mosque compound july pakistani government reported women children remained inside mosque attack aircraft friday july president general left flood affected areas president aircraft took airport fired anti aircraft weapons roof house mall area relationship remains unknown security forces recovered anti aircraft guns machine gun rooftop high rise mile airport government asserted shots heard minutes president aircraft took analysts suggest retaliation ongoing operations government continued efforts combat terrorism northern preparation assault predator aerial vehicles flew july capturing images deployment people inside security forces images taken study claims casualties damage caused flew hour senior government officials personnel examined pictures relayed information directly command post ground given pakistan united_states use war terror strategic planning assault mosque conducted based information gathered pakistan deployed security units execute attack mosque include army elite strike force division paramilitary force assault battle mosque morning july prime minister federal religious affairs minister declared peace negotiations mobile phone failed minutes issued orders storm mosque spokesman said troops began attacking mosque south assaulted directions forces immediately came gunfire heavily armed positions roof holes walls mosque quickly cleared mosque ground floor amid explosions coming mosque women children ran advancing operators managed escape unharmed secured ground floor mosque continually received fire mosque slowed operation progress mosque roof base steps shoot troops taken progressed deeper complex threw gasoline bombs unsuccessful attempt set fire mosque stop assault ground floor secured attempted enter adjoining mosque delayed traps disabled continue complex battle complex entered complex served living quarters engaged main courtyard fired makeshift beneath army spokesman later stated months courtyard cleared entered labyrinth building inside armed guns rockets areas trapped explosion proof sophisticated weapons suffered casualties phase operation close quarter combat attacked smoke grenades grenades grenades thirty injured operation received injuries grenades fight continued came room half dozen present detonated suicide jacket killing room took hours intense fighting gained control basement remaining secured final stand said troops secured percent complex moving slowly resistance intense remaining areas continued heavily armed retreated basement women children human shields according spokesman basement resisted machine guns shoulder fired rockets interview operation basement claimed mother wounded gunfire quoted saying government force naked aggression murder certain claimed rebels battling pakistani troops continued fire ventilation basement shot leg asked surrender room fired killed reports came bunker surrender shot forces fighting continued personnel trapped basement surrendered killed army emergency workers waited clearance enter female police officers present handle female survivors casualties relatives inside outside associated_press reported siege given neighborhood look war zone troops manning machine guns posts armoured vehicles mosque secured july officials reported complex cleared troops area traps explosives day operation longest conducted according weapons recovered bullet complexes including russian chinese variant rpg rockets anti tank anti personnel suicide bombing belts caliber rifles light machine guns sniper rifles rifles pistols night vision equipment rounds calibre ammunition lesser sophisticated items weaponry recovered complex included gasoline bombs prepared green soft drink bottles gas masks rifles way radios large plastic containing bombs size tennis balls knives intelligence agencies expressed shock highly sophisticated weapons compound began investigation equipment came spokesman said suicide bomber detonated mosque located opposite complex seminary said second suicide bomber detonated white mosque total took hours fully secure complex remove traps casualties officials considered operation success citing able subdue fighters inside mosque group allegedly included foreign terrorists heavy civilian toll number casualties lower said pakistan prime minister participated siege later assault mosque died wounded inspector general police reported july july people men women children left rescued complex confirmed people killed operation ranger soldier includes sixteen dead july total people injured including civilians army soldiers rangers seventy bodies recovered premises operation securing brought end days high tension normally city immune violence experienced tribal areas pakistan army spokesman said operation people rescued complex male said rescued age eighteen different rooms firing pillars going clearing understand difficulties told journalists nineteen bodies burned recognition appeared women children according pakistani officials article nation cited grave cemetery bodies buried claimed possibility body coffin article stated government digging graves previously established coalition hard line religious parties claimed students killed women children spanish language news channels claimed total number deaths siege greater high pakistani investigators links terrorists discovered registers listing students studied seminary investigators believe information found complex help clarify number people killed missing operation officials believe list registered students matches number students evacuated captured mosque damage mosque damage extensive entrance hall completely burned ceiling red walls oval doorway mosque sustained damage seminary bullet found mosque roof inside turned coal black trying set mosque fire gasoline bombs mosque white points resulting damage completely destroyed speakers hanging wires dome damaged hour battle director general said photographs bodies indicate foreigners dead complex damage extensive thousands bullet holes courtyard basement rockets main buildings complex structurally intact boundary walls breached places building bullet marks cement structure inside school filled shattered glass spent rounds piles girls bed rolls books walls july asked government complete repair rehabilitation days july mosque reopened public complex demolished illegally constructed danger collapsing foreign fighters pakistani intelligence officials said found letters deputy taking control written directing brothers conduct armed revolt government sources believe foreign fighters egypt afghanistan arrived weeks final confrontation established firing ranges teach students including children handle weapons properly diplomats surprised quickly condemned attack mosque called rise government officials blamed presence foreign fighters breakdown negotiations reach deal end peacefully according government sources western diplomats fighters mosque sought instead second command issued july calling join revenge attack pakistan army mosque minute address titled aggression dedicated solely clash video released media wing subtitled english reactions pakistani public silent operation agreed government decision use force retake complex able stir anger time moves people tolerant oppose militant desire impose interpretation islamic law residents agree raid restored local peace despite fears retaliation pakistani media televised address nation declared determined terrorism pakistan dawn supported government actions questioned intelligence agencies failed wind arms ammunition large quantities supported government position added let clear government violate universal principle negotiation terrorists live praised news critical stating operation silence firing stops dust bodies counted bound questions raised didn government action earlier case lives lost elements allowed complex like state state complete moral force acted enforcing rigid interpretation islam city residents hardened reportedly foreigners way inside compound situated heart post worried episode affect pakistan going religious sentiments lead increased country including general banner islam newspaper criticised government stating government tragedy wanted matter resolved start time history pakistan security forces bombarded mosque religious seminary brought armored personnel carriers tanks helicopter numbers wonder shows activity minds incident tragic dangerous harmed country nation worse impact leave country future point imagined wrote editorial entire nation drowned shock grief today mourning use force need comprehensive inquiry operation report public people know actual facts daily countered entire nation usa wanted happened proof operation celebrated white house pentagon pakistan observer praised government government deserves credit showing remarkable tolerance patience exhausted possible avenues peaceful settlement nerve shattering crisis international reaction china backed stand chinese minister public security referred explicitly terrorists demanded pakistan act protect chinese nationals working country european_union president issued statement supports government pakistan defense rule law writ state threat posed armed radical groups context fight praised restraint showed pakistani authorities united_states president gave support strong ally war deputy spokesman noted given warnings moved said government pakistan proceeded responsible way governments responsibility preserve order quoted saying american government supported pakistani government given warnings instead surrendering decided fight challenge writ government hunt said fully supports pakistan war terror considers pakistan closest ally religious parties figures criticised support extended official demanded government expel interfering pakistan internal affairs pakistani foreign office spokesperson characterised official statement contrary diplomatic norms open interference country internal affairs said protest lodged aftermath august acting notice supreme_court pakistan took killings people complex performance administration attracted court slow pace court informed students custody offences chief justice pakistan ordered immediate release people considered innocent recommended joint investigation team director told court dna tests confirmed chief justice pointed deputy commissioner stated bodies remained unidentified president said issue resolved negotiations general intentionally blood innocent people foreign masters deputy information minister said assault sent strong message government meant business vowed nationally televised address crush pakistan religious schools like breed siege gave pakistan rallying point generating new prompting launch retaliation attacks pakistan attack operation mosque july suicide attacks killed people northwest pakistan soldiers killed suicide attacker struck military convoy northwest pakistan near border july bodies seventy operation buried graveyard near assist relatives identifying claiming bodies later officials took photographs dna samples bodies prior temporary graves renewed attacks pakistan siege october arrested days charges personally responsible ordering siege came weeks case filed responsibility july local time bomb exploded near killing policemen civilian pakistani officials claim bombing occurred anniversary siege revenge attack work year old suicide bomber
Siege of Lal Masjid