Pakistan...you really are becoming the gold standard of terror, now aren't you? In a brazen attack today, radical islamic terrorists attacked the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team killing 8 of its members and then fleeing. No one has claimed responsibility yet but I think the choices are pretty narrow as to who is responsible. Here's some of the details from Yahoo News:
Now, with that bit of information, most are going to turn the spotlight on Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group of terrorists in Pakistan that was nailed for the Mumbai massacre. At the same time, one might argue that Lashkar-e-Taiba has been laying pretty low since Mumbai so this could quite possibly be more linked directly to al Qaeda - I know, there is a ton of grey area when you mention terror groups and al Qaeda but my thoughts are that this resembles Lashkar's doing more in the use of the small weapons. Al Qaeda is more of a bomb and awe operation.
The fact of the matter is that Pakistan continues down this path of no return - they are giving away their first born to pacify the Taliban in the northwest part of the country, they have al Qaeda growing in numbers by the day up in the northwest as well and they seemingly have no control of Lashkar-e-Taiba who is further south in the country. It's a bloody mess, pardon the pun.
Gunmen attacked Sri Lanka's cricket team in a gun and grenade assault Tuesday in the Pakistani city of Lahore that killed eight people and wounded seven members of the squad.I think that probably the most telling part of the article is this:
The attack sparked condemnation from around the world and threw a massive question mark over the future of the game in the troubled nation -- a co-host for the 2011 cricket World Cup.
"The plan was apparently to kill the Sri Lankan team but the police came in the way and forced the attackers to run away," Lahore's police chief Habib-ur Rehman said.
"They appeared to be well-trained terrorists," he told reporters.
Rehman said up to 12 gunmen ambushed the team's convoy close to the Gaddafi stadium with rockets, hand grenades and automatic weapons, unleashing a fierce gunbattle with security forces.
The gunmen fled after the ambush, triggering a giant manhunt.
Pakistani officials said the attack bore all the hallmarks of the November 2008 assault on the Indian city of Mumbai, which was blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.
Now, with that bit of information, most are going to turn the spotlight on Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group of terrorists in Pakistan that was nailed for the Mumbai massacre. At the same time, one might argue that Lashkar-e-Taiba has been laying pretty low since Mumbai so this could quite possibly be more linked directly to al Qaeda - I know, there is a ton of grey area when you mention terror groups and al Qaeda but my thoughts are that this resembles Lashkar's doing more in the use of the small weapons. Al Qaeda is more of a bomb and awe operation.
The fact of the matter is that Pakistan continues down this path of no return - they are giving away their first born to pacify the Taliban in the northwest part of the country, they have al Qaeda growing in numbers by the day up in the northwest as well and they seemingly have no control of Lashkar-e-Taiba who is further south in the country. It's a bloody mess, pardon the pun.
Eight dead in attack on Sri Lanka cricketers in Pakistan
Witnesses said the upmarket district, home to many designer boutiques, was transformed into a battle zone as gunmen hidden behind trees opened fire in a sophisticated, coordinated attack.
"The bus came under attack as we were driving to the stadium," Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene told Cricinfo.
"The gunmen targeted the wheels of the bus first, and then the bus. We all dived to the floor to take cover."
He said most of the injuries appeared to be minor and caused by debris.
It could have been worse -- Rehman said the attackers fired a rocket which missed the bus, then threw grenades underneath which failed to explode.
He said weapons recovered from the scene "suggest the terrorists were well prepared and organised."
A police official said two civilians and six policemen guarding the players were killed in the attack as the team was heading for the third day's play in the second Test against Pakistan.
Sri Lankan officials said seven team players and a coach were wounded.
Star batsman Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavithana were treated in hospital but out of danger, while Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Thushara and Suranga Lokumal had minor injuries.
Assistant coach Paul Farbrace, a British national, was also hurt.
Samaraweera is one of Sri Lanka's leading players and earlier this week he became only the seventh batsmen in Test cricket to notch a double hundred in consecutive matches.
Sri Lanka said it was rushing its foreign minister to Pakistan in the wake of the assault, which Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse called a "cowardly terrorist attack."
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also strongly condemned the "terrorist" attack and ordered an inquiry.
Two air force helicopters evacuated the Sri Lankan team from the stadium to an air base, from where they were to be flown home immediately.
Experts defused two car bombs and recovered grenades, three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of explosives, a pistol and a detonating cable.
Blood stained the front seats of a vehicle used by Pakistan's elite force, the van raked with gunfire with its wheels shot up and radio system disabled.
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