Six Pakistani police die heroically protecting Spanish cyclist

Qualitymark

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/22/guards-spanish-cyclist-shot-dead-pakistan-baluchistan

Perhaps it's unfair, but I find myself angry with this cyclist, especially on reading that "A message on Colorado's Facebook page posted by relatives said his family "would like to give our appreciation for the attention given by the Spanish consulate in Pakistan'". What was he doing there, in the most dangerous place in Pakistan? And did the family thank the police for their heroism?

Javier Colorado, a 27-year-old adventurer on a round-the-world bicycle trip, was travelling with an escort of paramilitary police guards towards Quetta, the provincial capital of insurgency-racked Baluchistan province…

Pakistanis reacted with astonishment that a foreigner was travelling through the area, not least as the attempted kidnapping took place in Mastung, where a bomb attack on a bus carrying Shia pilgrims from Iran had killed 24 people the previous day. The incident had stopped Colorado travelling on towards Quetta on Tuesday.

Wishbone Ash

Why wasn't he actually kidnapped by the bandits after the policemen were shot dead as that was the purpose of the ambush in the first place?

Dermot Illogical

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Why wasn't he actually kidnapped by the bandits after the policemen were shot dead as that was the purpose of the ambush in the first place?

Possibly the other 6 still had ammunition.

Lumen

"He was assigned the escort by security forces because the province is plagued by kidnappers, Taliban militants, a violent separatist insurgency, sectarian killers, paramilitary death squads and drug traffickers."

Sure, but apart from that it's grand.

Wishbone Ash

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

Possibly the other 6 still had ammunition.

Ah! - I missed the "six guards were wounded" bit.

So the cyclist was assigned 12 security personnel!!

Arbiter of Good Taste

I agree with the OP. It makes me so angry. Damn the consequences, he wants the glory of an around the world trip

Dermot Illogical

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Ah! - I missed the "six guards were wounded" bit.

So the cyclist was assigned 12 security personnel!!

So it would seem. Must be a completely mad place.

Lumen

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

So it would seem. Must be a completely mad place.

I know someone working out there on power infrastructure. He lives and works in a massive secure compound and has a large armed escort any time he wants to go out for any reason.

The targeted killing of polio vaccinators says a lot.

ford2600

Lumen wrote: »

I know someone working out there on power infrastructure. He lives and works in a massive secure compound and has a large armed escort any time he wants to go out for any reason.

The targeted killing of polio vaccinators says a lot.

All secterian violence justified by a row over who succeded a 7th century nut who heard God speak to him. Was ran out of town before being listened in next town before heading home in triumph.
My favourite bit is the really crazy stuff he heard was when he was tricked by Satan.

You couldn't make it up...

First Up

ford2600 wrote: »

All secterian violence justified by a row over who succeded a 7th century nut who heard God speak to him. Was ran out of town before being listened in next town before heading home in triumph.
My favourite bit is the really crazy stuff he heard was when he was tricked by Satan.

You couldn't make it up...

Oh yes you could.

quozl

ford2600 wrote: »

All secterian violence justified by a row over who succeded a 7th century nut who heard God speak to him. Was ran out of town before being listened in next town before heading home in triumph.
My favourite bit is the really crazy stuff he heard was when he was tricked by Satan.

You couldn't make it up...

Are we talking about Northern Ireland now?

petethedrummer

Do the police in this region provide the escort for free or do they need to be paid?

ford2600

petethedrummer wrote: »

Do the police in this region provide the escort for free or do they need to be paid?

As Prop Joe would say "nothing as expensive as free".
I'd imagine one would have to pay

cjt156

quozl wrote: »

Are we talking about Northern Ireland now?

Same sport, different teams.