Islamabad: Heavily-armed terrorists stormed two packed mosques of the minority Ahmadi sect in the Pakistani city of Lahore during Friday prayers, firing indiscriminately with automatic weapons and lobbing grenades. Over 60 people were killed, but hundreds held hostage for a few hours have been rescued.
It was a coordinated attack on two mosques 15 km apart in Garhi Shahu and Model Town areas of Lahore at about 1.45 pm local time. Geo News channel reported that a Punjabi wing of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The terrorists entered the mosques and then continued to fire. Police and paramilitary forces surrounded the two mosques and took up positions on roads and roof tops around the mosques returning fire. They took a few hours, but the operation was successful and thousands were saved.
One gunman has been killed, one arrested and another one has been injured in the gunbattle.
Of the 60 people killed, most had bullet injuries. The injured were taken to Jinnah hospital. Many cars were damaged too outside the Garhi Shahu mosque.
Rescue work is now underway with both mosques cleared. Relieved people are rushing out to safety.
The attacks were clearly against the Ahmadi group, whom radical Sunni groups have targeted in the past, though never on such a large scale or coordinated fashion.
It was a coordinated attack on two mosques 15 km apart in Garhi Shahu and Model Town areas of Lahore at about 1.45 pm local time. Geo News channel reported that a Punjabi wing of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attacks.
One gunman has been killed, one arrested and another one has been injured in the gunbattle.
Advertisement
Rescue work is now underway with both mosques cleared. Relieved people are rushing out to safety.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Mohammed Shami Blasts Inzamam-ul-Haq's 'Cartoongiri' Over Attack On Arshdeep Singh During T20 World Cup Fire On Cargo Ship Near Goa, Coast Guard On Rescue Mission Delhi Hospital Shooting Case: Cops Arrest 21-Year-Old Man, Recover Pistol Over 300 Indian Students Return Home As 105 Bangladeshis Die In Protests Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV Global IT Chaos Persists, Flight Delays Expected Even Today: 10 Points Massive Global IT Crash Hits Airlines, Banks, Media: Live Updates "Stakes Are High, Choice Is Clear": Biden Vows To Stay In Presidential Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.