The police launched a manhunt on Tuesday for the suspected militants who attacked a British childrenÂ’s charity, killing four local staff members. Up to 12 armed men stormed the Plan International office in Mansehra on Monday, spraying gunfire and setting off grenades, the charity said in a statement.| The NGO, which has been active in the area for 12 years, said late Monday it had halted its operations in the country. |
Motives: Plan International said the motive for the attack was unknown and no specific threats had been made against the charity, which helps provide education and healthcare to children in the region. Pro-Taliban militants have bombed the offices of aid groups in the past in the country, alleging that foreign-funded organisations are trying to undermine their version of strict Islamic law, which bars women from working.
Dozens of local and foreign aid organisations have been working in the area since a massive October 2005 earthquake in the NWFP and AJK killed more than 73,000 people. The NGO is based in Woking in southern England. It was founded more than 70 years ago and is one of the oldest and largest international development agencies in the world, according to its website.