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Pakistani Taliban claim bombing Pakistani Taliban claim bombing
(10 minutes later)
The Pakistani Taliban have said they carried out a gun and bomb attack in Lahore which killed at least 24 people.The Pakistani Taliban have said they carried out a gun and bomb attack in Lahore which killed at least 24 people.
A deputy to Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud told the BBC by telephone the attack was in response to the army's operation in the Swat valley.A deputy to Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud told the BBC by telephone the attack was in response to the army's operation in the Swat valley.
The caller, who identified himself as Hakimullah Mehsud, threatened similar attacks in other Pakistani cities.The caller, who identified himself as Hakimullah Mehsud, threatened similar attacks in other Pakistani cities.
The army is claiming sweeping victories against Taliban insurgents in the Swat valley, near the Afghan border.The army is claiming sweeping victories against Taliban insurgents in the Swat valley, near the Afghan border.
It says more than 1,000 militants have been killed in the past month. There is no independent confirmation of the claims.It says more than 1,000 militants have been killed in the past month. There is no independent confirmation of the claims.
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"The fidayeen [suicide] attack which took place in Lahore was not revenge for [the attacks in] North and South Waziristan," Hakimullah Mehsud, Taliban commander for Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions, told the BBC."The fidayeen [suicide] attack which took place in Lahore was not revenge for [the attacks in] North and South Waziristan," Hakimullah Mehsud, Taliban commander for Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions, told the BBC.
"The military operation going on in Swat in which many innocent people are being killed and the bombing campaign against the mujahideen [fighters]... this is revenge for these acts," he said."The military operation going on in Swat in which many innocent people are being killed and the bombing campaign against the mujahideen [fighters]... this is revenge for these acts," he said.
Hakimullah Mehsud says the attack is to avenge the fighting in SwatHakimullah Mehsud says the attack is to avenge the fighting in Swat
The caller said the Taliban had been preparing to hit Lahore from the day the operation started in Swat.The caller said the Taliban had been preparing to hit Lahore from the day the operation started in Swat.
Giving a warning of similar attacks in other Pakistani cities on government installations, he advised citizens to evacuate.Giving a warning of similar attacks in other Pakistani cities on government installations, he advised citizens to evacuate.
"We love the people of Pakistan, and because of this love we politely ask the citizens of Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Multan to please evacuate their cities because we have marked out government targets there against whom we will carry out attacks as have never happened before," he warned."We love the people of Pakistan, and because of this love we politely ask the citizens of Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Multan to please evacuate their cities because we have marked out government targets there against whom we will carry out attacks as have never happened before," he warned.
The attack on Wednesday, which injured more than 200 people, targeted buildings belonging to the police and intelligence agency, the ISI.The attack on Wednesday, which injured more than 200 people, targeted buildings belonging to the police and intelligence agency, the ISI.
A group of men shot at police officers before detonating a powerful car bomb.A group of men shot at police officers before detonating a powerful car bomb.
ATTACKS ON LAHORE THIS YEAR 3 March Gunmen kill six police guards in an ambush on the Sri Lanka cricket team30 March Gunmen attack a police academy, killing eight people27 May A car bomb attack on police buildings kills at least 23 Hunt for Lahore cricket attackers Siege at Pakistan police academyATTACKS ON LAHORE THIS YEAR 3 March Gunmen kill six police guards in an ambush on the Sri Lanka cricket team30 March Gunmen attack a police academy, killing eight people27 May A car bomb attack on police buildings kills at least 23 Hunt for Lahore cricket attackers Siege at Pakistan police academy
Pakistan's government had suggested it suspects Pakistani Taliban involvement.Pakistan's government had suggested it suspects Pakistani Taliban involvement.
The police are still investigating the attack.The police are still investigating the attack.
In a separate development, the Pakistan army has released what it claims is an intercepted telephone call from a Taliban spokesman in Swat, Muslim Khan.In a separate development, the Pakistan army has released what it claims is an intercepted telephone call from a Taliban spokesman in Swat, Muslim Khan.
In the call, Muslim Khan is heard encouraging an attack on Pakistani cities in response to the army operation in Swat.In the call, Muslim Khan is heard encouraging an attack on Pakistani cities in response to the army operation in Swat.
Muslim Khan is based in Swat and is connected to the Swat Taliban leader, Maulana Fazlullah, who is a target of the current military offensive.Muslim Khan is based in Swat and is connected to the Swat Taliban leader, Maulana Fazlullah, who is a target of the current military offensive.
The army says it has recaptured 70% of the region's main city, Mingora, and expects to secure it in a matter of days.The army says it has recaptured 70% of the region's main city, Mingora, and expects to secure it in a matter of days.
In Wednesday's Lahore attack, at least one ISI agent, 12 police officers and one child were reported killed.In Wednesday's Lahore attack, at least one ISI agent, 12 police officers and one child were reported killed.
Local officials have speculated that the military intelligence agency could have been the target.Local officials have speculated that the military intelligence agency could have been the target.
The ISI's offices were damaged by the bombing, and a police emergency response building was flattened.The ISI's offices were damaged by the bombing, and a police emergency response building was flattened.
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A least two arrests were made, but police officials later told the BBC that those detained appear to have been innocent bystanders.A least two arrests were made, but police officials later told the BBC that those detained appear to have been innocent bystanders.
Lahore, in Punjab province near the Indian border, is known as Pakistan's cultural capital and is far from the Swat valley.Lahore, in Punjab province near the Indian border, is known as Pakistan's cultural capital and is far from the Swat valley.
But in March militants laid siege to a police compound in the city, killing eight people, and weeks earlier the Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked there.But in March militants laid siege to a police compound in the city, killing eight people, and weeks earlier the Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked there.
The BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says Lahore is facing a sustained campaign of violence unlike any it has seen beforeThe BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says Lahore is facing a sustained campaign of violence unlike any it has seen before
He says security officials believe the city is under attack because it is seen as a stable home for Pakistan's Punjab-dominated army.He says security officials believe the city is under attack because it is seen as a stable home for Pakistan's Punjab-dominated army.
Meanwhile, the authorities have announced a cash reward for the arrest of 21 Taliban leaders, including Swat Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah and his spokesman, Muslim Khan.
Adverts listing the men - 18 with pictures - appeared in several newspapers on Thursday. Top Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud already has a $5m bounty on his head posted by the United States.