ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police say they are pursuing terrorism charges against five detained Americans.
The five young Muslim men have not yet been formally charged.
But Sargodha police official Nazir Ahmad says the police allege the men were collecting and attempting to collect material to carry out terrorist activities in the list of recommended charges to be presented to a court.
The court has the power to formally charge the men.
The five were arrested in Sargodha earlier this month. They are accused of trying to link up with militant groups and intending to go fight in Afghanistan. They are from the Washington, D.C., area.
They appeared before a magistrate Friday. The police were given at least 10 more days to hold them.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
PARACHINAR, Pakistan (AP) — A government official says Pakistan’s army has killed at least nine suspected militants in a northwest tribal region near the Afghan border.
Mohammed Yasin says the military used helicopter gunships to destroy three militant hide-outs in the Orakzai area early Friday.
Many Pakistani Taliban fighters are believed to have fled to Orakzai since the army launched a major offensive against them in the South Waziristan tribal region in October.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has also hinted the army will pursue a full-scale offensive in Orakzai.
The U.N. says around 40,000 people have already fled the region.
