Lahore gun attack targets Sri Lankan cricketers- at least seven injured
03 Mar 2009
The ghosts of Mumbai 26/11 resurfaced with a vengeance in the heart of the Pakistani city of Lahore, the provincial capital of the country's largest province of the Punjab when terrorists attacked a convoy of buses carrying Sir Lankan cricketers to the Gaddafi stadium for the third days' play of the second test.
At least seven members of the Sri Lankan cricket team have been injured in the attack. At least two of the injured were operated on and are now declared to be out of danger.
Both these cricketers, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranawitharana, have received bullet wounds according to reports. Others, presumably, were hit by shards of flying glass and are currently resting in the dressing room of the stadium.
The Sri Lankan cricketers have said they will fly out of the country this afternoon.
The fourth umpire for the match, Ehsaan Raza is reported to be critically injured.
While Paranawitharana was shot in the chest, Samaraweera was hit in the leg. Paranawitharana's wound may have been a flesh wound allowing quick extraction after surgery.
The governor of the Punjab province, Salman Taseer, has claimed that there were at least 8-10 gunmen involved in the attack, though cameras have captured only two. He also said that at least one rickshaw driver, who ferried some of the terrorists, has been arrested.
So far, all terrorists involved in the attack are at large.
At least five policemen are confirmed dead and a number are critically injured.
The terrorists opened fire on a convoy carrying Sri Lankan and Pakistani cricketers to the Gaddafi stadium, venue for a Test match between the two sides. Grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered from the scene.
Today was the third day of play in the Second Test, which has now been cancelled. The series has now been abandoned.
TV grabs showed two gunmen with backpacks, uncannily reminiscent of the attackers in the 26/11Mumbai attack, on the road and the surrounding gardens where the incident happened.
Eyewitnesses reported very heavy firing and at least two explosions. The Sri Lankans obliged the Pakistanis after the Indian cricket team scrapped its scheduled tour of the country following the deadly November attacks in Mumbai.
Pakistan, along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are due to jointly host the Cricket World Cup in 2011.
