WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Gunmen attack Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-03 14:21

ISLAMABAD -- Five policemen were shot dead by unidentified men in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province on Tuesday, private TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.


Pakistani security officials conduct an inspection at the site of a shooting Lahore March 3, 2009. [Agencies]

The gunmen fired at a police vehicle in Liberty Chowk in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, leaving five policemen dead, said the report.

Related readings:
  5 security forces personnel kidnapped in NW Pakistan
  Pakistan militants say could extend truce
 Bomb kills 28 at Shiite funeral in Pakistan
  US voices 'concern' over Pakistan's truce deal
The policemen were escorting a Sri Lankan cricket team and when they came under attack, according to the DAWN NEWS.

The team was close to Gaddafi Stadium in the city when the incident occurred.

The attackers carrying automatic rifles also opened fire at the bus carrying Sri Lankan team and injured four players.

The area around the stadium has been cordoned off after the firing incident.

Police said that the Sri Lankan team was not targeted and it was a firing incident between two rival groups.

The DAWN NEWS TV channel quoted Capital City Police Officer Haji Habibur Rehman as saying that there were 12 terrorists in the city and they were trading fire.

He confirmed that the encounter between policemen and terrorists continued for 30 minutes.

Haji Habibur Rehman said the incident was similar to the Mumbai attacks.

   Previous page 1 2 Next Page