Certainly seems like overkill to catch one person (who may have already bled out somewhere, and at the least appears to be hunkered down or on the run)...
However, from a PR standpoint, the government appears to be trying to demonstrate that they will do whatever it takes to apprehend/kill a very dangerous person with a terrorist agenda.
This may be as much to let future wannabe terrorists that their fate is sealed if they try to commit terrorism in this country.
ADG