‘BLA Shot Soldiers In Front Of Me’: Freed Pakistan Train Hijack Hostage Recounts Terrifying Ordeal
Pakistan Train Hijack: One survivor, Muhammad Bilal, struggled to articulate the terror of the escape, saying it was beyond words.
Pakistan Train Hijack: Freed hostages described a harrowing escape from a train siege in Pakistan in which at least 16 rebels were killed. Security forces rescued over 150 passengers after militants hijacked a passenger train in a tunnel in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
‘Can’t Find Words To Describe’
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One survivor, Muhammad Bilal, struggled to articulate the terror of the escape, saying it was beyond words.
“I can’t find the words to describe how we managed to escape. It was terrifying," Muhammad Bilal told AFP.
‘People Began Hiding Under Seats’
Another freed hostage, Allahditta, recounted the chaos as rebels stormed the train after the explosion. The 49-year-old and his family were released due to his heart condition.
He said, “I heard an explosion followed by gunfire as rebels boarded the train. People began hiding under the seats in panic. They separated the men from the women. They allowed me and my family to go because I told them I’m a heart patient."
“We walked for a long time through the mountains to reach the nearest station. I haven’t eaten since I began fasting this morning, but I still can’t bring myself to eat," Allahditta said, in reference to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
‘They Checked Our IDs’
One passenger described gunmen sorting through identity cards to confirm who was from outside of the province. He told AFP, “They came and checked IDs and service cards and shot two soldiers in front of me and took the other four to, I don’t know where. They checked IDs and those who were Punjabis were taken away by the terrorists."
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