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| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers | Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city of Lahore. | Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city of Lahore. |
| At least five Pakistani policemen escorting the team bus were killed, while seven cricketers, and their assistant coach, were injured. | At least five Pakistani policemen escorting the team bus were killed, while seven cricketers, and their assistant coach, were injured. |
| Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered. | Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered. |
| Officials said the incident bore the hallmarks of deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November. | Officials said the incident bore the hallmarks of deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November. |
| The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants. | The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants. |
| INJURED PLAYERS Thilan Samaraweera (hospital)Tharanga Paranavitana (hospital)Mahela JayawardeneKumar SangakkaraAjantha MendisSuranka LakmalChaminda VaasAssistant coach Paul Frabrace In pictures: Cricketers attackedLahore Test scrapped after attack The BBC's Barbara Plett says the incident will come as a big blow to Pakistani cricket - already suffering from serious security concerns - and may put an end to international cricket in the country in the short term. | INJURED PLAYERS Thilan Samaraweera (hospital)Tharanga Paranavitana (hospital)Mahela JayawardeneKumar SangakkaraAjantha MendisSuranka LakmalChaminda VaasAssistant coach Paul Frabrace In pictures: Cricketers attackedLahore Test scrapped after attack The BBC's Barbara Plett says the incident will come as a big blow to Pakistani cricket - already suffering from serious security concerns - and may put an end to international cricket in the country in the short term. |
| Commentators have questioned the wisdom of cricket authorities in giving the tour the go-ahead in the first place. | Commentators have questioned the wisdom of cricket authorities in giving the tour the go-ahead in the first place. |
| Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to tour only after India's cricket team pulled out of a scheduled cricket tour on security grounds, following the Mumbai attacks. | Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to tour only after India's cricket team pulled out of a scheduled cricket tour on security grounds, following the Mumbai attacks. |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| Reports suggest 10 to 12 gunmen ambushed the team coach and its accompanying police detail on a roundabout in Liberty Square in the heart of Lahore, as the convoy was on the way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match. | Reports suggest 10 to 12 gunmen ambushed the team coach and its accompanying police detail on a roundabout in Liberty Square in the heart of Lahore, as the convoy was on the way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match. |
| Our Islamabad correspondent says accounts suggest the attack was sophisticated in nature, with one group of gunmen firing a rocket-propelled grenade in order to create a diversion, while others then approached, firing guns on the convoy. | Our Islamabad correspondent says accounts suggest the attack was sophisticated in nature, with one group of gunmen firing a rocket-propelled grenade in order to create a diversion, while others then approached, firing guns on the convoy. |
| PAKISTAN CRICKET CRISIS Sept 2001: New Zealand pull out of Pakistan tour following US military action in Afghanistan after 9/11 attacks; West Indies and Australia move games to neutral venues.May 2002: New Zealand cancel tour of Pakistan after explosion outside team's Karachi hotelMarch 2008: Australia postpone tour of Pakistan on security concernsOct 2008: West Indies call off November tour of Pakistan on security concernsDec 2008: India pulls out of 2009 Pakistan tour after government directiveFeb 2009: 2009 Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan is called off after participants express security concerns She says the gunmen - two of whom were shown in TV pictures carrying backpacks - seemed to be well-trained. | |
| Officials in Lahore said two members of the Sri Lankan team - Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana - were sent to hospital. Another five received minor wounds, as well as assistant coach Paul Farbrace. | Officials in Lahore said two members of the Sri Lankan team - Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana - were sent to hospital. Another five received minor wounds, as well as assistant coach Paul Farbrace. |
| "The players are shocked. They have never gone through anything like this before," former Sri Lankan player Sanath Jayasuriya told an Indian news channel on the phone from Colombo. | "The players are shocked. They have never gone through anything like this before," former Sri Lankan player Sanath Jayasuriya told an Indian news channel on the phone from Colombo. |
| There are no reports that any of the attackers were killed or apprehended. Grenades and rocket launchers were found at the site of the incident, police said. | There are no reports that any of the attackers were killed or apprehended. Grenades and rocket launchers were found at the site of the incident, police said. |
| A Pakistani air force helicopter has now airlifted uninjured members of the Sri Lankan team out of the Gaddafi Stadium. | A Pakistani air force helicopter has now airlifted uninjured members of the Sri Lankan team out of the Gaddafi Stadium. |
| Thilan Samaraweera (L) and Tharanga Paranavitana went to hospital Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the "cowardly terrorist attack" and ordered the players' evacuation back to Sri Lanka. A plane is being chartered for this purpose. | Thilan Samaraweera (L) and Tharanga Paranavitana went to hospital Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the "cowardly terrorist attack" and ordered the players' evacuation back to Sri Lanka. A plane is being chartered for this purpose. |
| Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also strongly condemned the attack, and ordered an immediate investigation "so that the perpetrators are identified and their motives exposed", said a statement from his office. | Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also strongly condemned the attack, and ordered an immediate investigation "so that the perpetrators are identified and their motives exposed", said a statement from his office. |
| Meanwhile, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry offered sympathy and urged Pakistan to take "prompt, meaningful and decisive steps to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure once and for all". | Meanwhile, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry offered sympathy and urged Pakistan to take "prompt, meaningful and decisive steps to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure once and for all". |
| The third day of play in the Second Test was scheduled to begin, but officials said the match has now been cancelled. | The third day of play in the Second Test was scheduled to begin, but officials said the match has now been cancelled. |
| Security fears | Security fears |
| Pakistan is engaged in a bloody struggle against Islamist insurgents who have staged high-profile attacks on civilian targets before. | Pakistan is engaged in a bloody struggle against Islamist insurgents who have staged high-profile attacks on civilian targets before. |
| India and Australia have pulled out of cricket tours in Pakistan in the recent past citing security concerns. | India and Australia have pulled out of cricket tours in Pakistan in the recent past citing security concerns. |
| The sport's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, last month decided not to hold the 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan due to safety worries. | The sport's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, last month decided not to hold the 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan due to safety worries. |
| Our correspondent says initial suspects will include Kashmiri militant groups, al-Qaeda or Taleban militants. | Our correspondent says initial suspects will include Kashmiri militant groups, al-Qaeda or Taleban militants. |
| Further down the list are militants connected to the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels against whom Sri Lankan authorities are waging their own domestic military campaign. | Further down the list are militants connected to the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels against whom Sri Lankan authorities are waging their own domestic military campaign. |
| Are you in Lahore? Did you witness the shooting? Send us your experiences using the form below. Do not endanger yourself or others. | Are you in Lahore? Did you witness the shooting? Send us your experiences using the form below. Do not endanger yourself or others. |