Lahore, March 03: In a shocking incident, the Sri Lankan cricket team which is in Lahore to play the second Test was attacked upon by a gang of highly trained terrorists early on Tuesday, injuring at least six players.The Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Lokuke Gamini, has confirmed to the reporters that six of the players were injured and taken to hospital. The injured players are: Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Thushara.The extent of injuries is still not clear but reports filtered in that some players were hit by bullets and sharpnels, grievously injuring them. Father of the outgoing team skipper Mahela Jayawardene said his son had just called his wife from Lahore to say that he too had suffered minor injuries in his leg during the attack that had shocked the nation.
How It Happened ?
As per initial reports the attack happened outside the Gaddafi stadium when the team was passing through the Liberty roundabout. A group of gunmen (Reportedly 12 in number), armed with automatic weapons, were waiting there in a white car, then resorted to indiscriminate firing at the convoy and even fired rocket launchers.Seven policemen have lost their lives while two other are reportedly injured.Some of the slain policemen have been identified: Zafar Khan, Mudassar, Tipu Sultan and Tanvir Ahmed.
Tour Cancelled......
The Sri Lankan cricket board has cancelled the tour with immediate effect while the encounter with the unidentified gunmen is still going on.
Striking Similarities with Mumbai Attacks.......
The authorities are suspecting it as a handiwork of one Pakistan’s many active terror groups. Punjab Governor, Salmaan Tahseer, while confirming the incident claimed that the attackers were highly trained and bore resemblance to the Mumbai terror attacks in the way it was executed.In the meanwhile, the Pakistan police have released the sketches of the assailants and it has been confirmed that they had automatic weapons.Incidentally, media reports claimed that the police knew of a plan to attack the team and hence the route taken by the convoy today was kept a secret but it seems that the terrorists had better information.A witness told reporters he believed two police commandos were killed along with a regular policeman and a traffic warden. Shopkeeper Ahmed Ali said the two police commandos had been driving behind the team bus when they were hit."It was a very heavy firing and I heard at least two explosions at the time," said a witness who had been on his way to cover the test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.Pakistan only invited the Sri Lanka team to tour after India's team pulled out with security concerns following the militant attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November.
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