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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers | Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers |
| (about 1 hour 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 similarities to deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November. | Officials said the incident bore similarities to 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 MendisSuranga LakmalChaminda VaasAssistant coach Paul Farbrace In pictures: Cricketers attackedLahore Test scrapped after attack | |
| Pakistani cricket was already suffering from serious security concerns. | |
| 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. |
| And International Cricket Council president David Morgan told the BBC it would be "very difficult for international cricket to be hosted in Pakistan for quite some time to come". | |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| Reports suggest 10 to 12 gunmen ambushed the team coach and its accompanying police detail on the Liberty Square roundabout 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 the Liberty Square roundabout in the heart of Lahore, as the convoy was on the way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad 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. | |
| She says the gunmen - two of whom were shown in TV pictures carrying backpacks - seemed to be well-trained. | |
| PAKISTAN CRICKET TIMELINE 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 | |
| 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. |
| None of the attackers was killed or apprehended at the scene. Grenades and rocket launchers were found there, police said, and a manhunt is under way. | |
| Our correspondent says security forces will be investigating any connections to al-Qaeda and Taleban militants as well as Kashmiri jihadi groups. | Our correspondent says security forces will be investigating any connections to al-Qaeda and Taleban militants as well as Kashmiri jihadi groups. |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| Thilan Samaraweera (L) and Tharanga Paranavitana went to hospital But a Pakistani minister, Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol, reportedly told private Geo TV that evidence suggested the attackers came across the border from India. | |
| He said the assault came in reaction to the Mumbai attacks, and was a "declaration of open war on Pakistan by India". | |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities are waging their own domestic military campaign against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels. | Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities are waging their own domestic military campaign against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels. |
| 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. |
| 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. |