Update: 7 killed in attack on Lankan cricketers in Pakistan

by hussain | March 2, 2009 at 10:10 pm

556 views | 39 Recommendations | 19 comments

At least five security personnel and two others were killed and six members of Sri Lankan cricket team were injured when some unknown gunmen attacked the bus that was carrying the visiting team to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday for second day's play in the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Following the incident, the Pakistan tour of Sri Lankan team was called off.
In a search operation after the shooting incident, the police recovered a large quantity of arms and also defused two car bombs in different areas of Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan and capital of the country's largest Punjab province.

LAHORE: Seven people including five policemen were killed and six Sri Lankan cricketers were wounded in a shooting attack in Lahore on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan tour has been called off after the attack. According to sources, unknown attackers opened fire on Sri Lankan cricket team bus near Gaddafi Stadium.
Intense trade of fire occurred between police and unknown attackers. CCPO Lahore Habibur Rehman said there were 12 attackers carrying rocket launchers; hand grenade, Kalashnikovs and Mousers who reportedly reached the site in rickshaws. Seven people including five cops were killed in the shooting.

Earlier reports said that five policemen were killed and eight Sri Lankan cricketers injured in the attack.

LAHORE: Unidentified gunmen attacked the bus taking the Sri Lankan cricket squad and its police escort to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, killing at least five security officials and injuring eight Sri Lankan team members.
Sri Lankan media, quoting the sports minister, said four players received minor injuries in the attack — Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavithana.
The shooting took place near the Gaddafi stadium gate when the team was heading for the third day’s play in the second Test against Pakistan, he said.
‘We are assessing the situation,’ Pakistan cricket board chief Ejaz Butt said.
In Sri Lanka, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said two players, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, had been taken to hospital in the city.
A witness told Reuters 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 Reuters witness who had been on his way to cover the test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Security concerns have plagued Pakistan for years and some foreign sports teams have refused to play here.

Two car bombs defused in Lahore

LAHORE: Pakistani security experts on Tuesday defused two car bombs and recovered a stash of weapons after gunmen staged a deadly ambush against the Sri Lankan cricket team, officials said.
One bomb was defused at Liberty Square, where the ambush took place, and another at the nearby Firdus car park.
"We have defused a bomb in a white Hyundai and after some time we got information about a suspect car in the Firdus car park. We also defused the bomb there," police bomb disposal unit inspector Abdul Ghafoor told foreign news agency.
Local sector warden Malik Fayyaz said that grenades, three kilograms of explosives, a pistol and a one-meter detonating cable had been recovered.

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Paschen

at 22:49 on March 2nd, 2009

This may hurt relations between the two countries.

sudharaka

at 23:05 on March 2nd, 2009

Paschen

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have enjoyed a very good relationship over the years and this incident will NOT hurt the diplomatic ties. The good relationship was the reason for SL to tour Pakistan in the first place, many teams including Australia having refused to tour citing security concerns. As a country angaged in a war with a bunch of blood thirsty terrorists Sri Lanka is well placed to understand the predicament of the Pakistan very well.

On the other hand, by any chance, if it were an Indian team at the receiving end, passions would have erupted in unimaginable proportions.

Paschen

at 23:17 on March 2nd, 2009

You are probably correct on this. However less has change friends into enemies before. It often depends on the respective leaders wish hopefully will be wise.

sudharaka

at 00:39 on March 3rd, 2009

Official response from Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona

Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona speaking to news agencies on the Lahore attack said that this incident is unlike to cause restraints between the two countries who also emphasized commitment from the cricketing world to certain the presence of Pakistan as a major player in the game. Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India are all nations that are making stringent efforts to defeat the terrorist outfits in the South Asian region including the LTTE terrorists.

Also, praising the Pakistani security forces for securing the safety of the cricketers, Foreign Secretary Kohona evoked the solidarity shown by both Pakistan and India towards the island nation during the famous 1996 cricket world-cup, when Sri Lanka was blacklisted as an 'unsafe' destination by foreign propagandists.

hussain

at 23:03 on March 2nd, 2009

Of course, the incident is going to hut ties between the two countries as well as the game of cricket. However, Sri Lankan government is aware of the situation in Pakistan as Colombo too is fighting terrorists since long.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka rushed Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollegama to Pakistan Tuesday after the national cricket team was attacked in Lahore, the president's office said.

Fumigation

at 05:58 on March 3rd, 2009

India, its Nation and its Coward Army have sweet dream that they can FUCK Pakistan ...... Listen Bastard Indians ........ you are only RED INDIANS ...... mind it! You can't ever crush Pakistan so easily, we have long range Missiles which can FUCK all of your Black Nation with Billions of Indian Girls which are almost Prostitutes :)

Come on ...... attack on Pakistan and start the War if you have such power. You said you are super power in Asia, you have 1700 Air crafts, many other Ballistic weapons then for what you are waiting for?

Bastards, you are Barking Dogs, We will only Hit one Missile on your Fucking Ass, that's all. It will demolished your name from the World's Map forever.

Insha Allah.

If you have any problem of Cockroaches, Bedbugs, Termites, Rats in Karachi City, then let me know.

Friends Fumigation Services
Saddar, Karachi, Pakistan.

Cell No. 0321-2016825
E-mail: Friendsfumigation@yahoo.com

Paschen

at 18:04 on March 3rd, 2009

SPAM Comment above.

Amaad

at 01:05 on March 23rd, 2009

that was disgusting my friend.. this not the way one should project the image of his/ her country

Daredevil (not verified)

at 11:05 on March 23rd, 2009

Once a Pakistani, Bangladeshi & British man were having a drink together.
Pakistani had a drink, he took a gun out from his pocket and shoots glass and said,"We have enough glass in our country that we dont have to drink in the same one."
Bangladeshi had a drink, he took a gun out from his pocket and he also shoots glass and said,"We have enough glass in our country that we dont have to drink in the same one."
British Man had a drink, he took a gun out from his pocket and
.
.
.
he shoots Pakistani & Bangladeshi and said,"We have enough Pakis, & Bangladeshis in our country that we dont want to drink with the same guys"
.
.
.
Fuck ur Allah's ass u bastard Pakis....

Amy Judd

at 15:52 on March 3rd, 2009

Just such a sad story.

chanaka

at 01:54 on March 4th, 2009

There will be no misunderstand between both the countries. It was a time terrorist won the match. Thing is they will not able to win anymore again. Rather pointing falls of each other unite and crack them is what we all believes. This is a common and simple theory to understand & act for the cause.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 01:59 on March 23rd, 2009

Very well put Chanaka.

Tamiya

at 14:09 on March 5th, 2009

Sudharaka, I don't believe it is fair to bring in LTTE in to the picture. LTTE are dying in the North and East to protect Tamils civilians from the Sri Lankan Government and Army. You could say otherwise and keep on posting rumors on LTTE, but Tamils do know the truth on what Sri Lankan Governments and Army do. Tamils have a 60 years of experience on the oppression from Sri Lankan Goverments.

I can only wonder if the Sri Lankan government have staged a very well orchestrated drama to blame LTTE in this incident.

I am not trying to undermine the severity of the event, but the severity is even greater, and should not be ignored, if the event was actually caused by the team's own government for political benefits.

Sri Lankan government is starting to get pressure from the western countries to stop the violence on Tamils civilians, and bring LTTE to peace talks again. Since the Rajapaksa brothers could not stand the thought of peace with Tamils, they would do anything to bring "terrorists" mark to LTTE.

The Rajapaksa brothers have kept out independent media and monitors out from North and East. Would the Rajapaksa brothers ever do something like this, risking the lives of their own cricket team? The Rajapaksa brothers are certainly capable of it as they did not hesitate to kill media members for their own benefits. For example Lasantha Wickramatunga.

Could this be a Sri Lankan government orchestrated drama on the international stage to undermine the current sufferings of Tamils. Who else would benefit from such incident at this time? There is lots of noise from the immigrated Tamils in the West. The West is starting to pay attention to the conflict and wondering why there are no independent journalists or monitors in the North and East.

As long as the Tamils are kept in silence and Rajapaksa brothers can continue exploit Sri Lanka in the name of war, the Rajapaksa brothers would do anything, including killing Sinhalese people too.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 01:58 on March 23rd, 2009

@Tomiya > errrrrrrrrrrrr

i don't know whether to laugh or cry.

gill_indian_dunalli (not verified)

at 00:12 on March 23rd, 2009

lissen to me u fucking paki

who ever commented on indians

each indian can fuck each paki gal then also

they have enuf stamina to stuff ur country men ass with their mutha fucking guns

and explode up ur ass

and believe me guns are far more advanced than ur army who always wears salvars like girls

go get some bangles and send ur mutha fucking hot whores on border so that we can gave them shelter and good fuck that they havent had from long

when the da pak was formed

hun punjabi ch sun

" tatteyan thale rakh eho ji missile chadanga na ,agliyan pushtan kehn gian rab sanu banda na banayi"

Amaad

at 01:03 on March 23rd, 2009

yet another spam

alas

Daredevil (not verified)

at 11:03 on March 23rd, 2009

Irish_Pride (not verified)

at 11:55 on March 23rd, 2009

then an Irish hears the noise goes to investigate and sees the faggot English British Bastard and shoots him up the arse.. and keeps shooting him untill the he stops moving then he throws that Faggot in the sea.

fuck off from Ireland you fucking English bastards...