The raid was preceded by an attack on the local police station, when two vehicles were blown up, in the town of Jama'are, some 125 miles (200km) north of the state capital, Bauchi.

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Then on April 22nd 1997, all but one who suffered a heart attack, were freed in a dramatic raid by Peruvian commandos.

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Even a helicopter crash on the night of the raid did not upset the American Navy Seals' efficient attack.

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The raid comes a week after 16 Egyptian soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in an attack near the Rafah border crossing, when assailants with semiautomatic weapons and hand grenades stole two armored vehicles from Egyptian forces and tried to enter Israel.

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There was also a police raid on a public housing complex in east Greenwich just outside of London thought to be related to the attack investigation.

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