Madina Bakery Miranshah (N. Waziristan) Drone Attack – May 2012
Date: 26/05/2012
Location: North Waziristan Agency, FATA, Pakistan
Perpetrators: United States
Victims: 4 Killed, 2 Injured
What Happened?
26 May 2012: A U.S. drone strike destroyed a bakery in the Zafar Town Miranshah Bazar area. This attack reportedly began at 0410 hours. There is substantial contradiction in media reports about the specifics of this drone attack. Pakistan Observer alleged that an apartment above the bakery was hit, while most agencies report that the bakery itself was the target.
Associated Press reported that the targets were ‘suspected foreigners’ who were buying bread at the bakery. A BBC reporter, Ahmed Wali Majeeb, was at the location when the attack happened. He was unable to confirm the identities of the victims, as they were quickly taken away by the Taliban.
Majeeb allegedly heard local gossip that Al-Qaeda’s Abu Hafs Al Misri had been killed, however Al Misri’s death had been claimed in a South Waziristan drone attack on 28 September 2010.
Given the lack of any independent inquiry, this U.S. drone attack is considered undocumented. Due to the deliberate targeting of a public bakery in a densely populated area, there is a substantial risk of unreported civilian casualties.
Sources: AFP, Pakistan Observer, BBC
OMM-PK315