In Pakistan, death toll in terror in Friday’s attacks at two Lahore mosques has risen to 80. About 100 people were also injured when heavily-armed Taliban terrorists wearing suicide vests stormed two mosques of Ahmadi sect packed with Friday worshippers.<br/><br/>Wielding automatic assault rifles and laced with grenades, the militants ran into the two mosques situated miles apart in coordinated attacks, seized hostages and set off running battles with the police.<br/><br/>The gunmen from Tehrik-e-Taliban—Pakistan's or TTP's Punjab wing— struck the jam-packed mosques, where over 1,500 worshippers had gathered at 1.45 pm local time. They lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately.<br/><br/>The TTP Punjab faction comprises radical elements of the banned outfits like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.<br/><br/>While one of the mosques is located in the upscale Model Town, the other is in the heavily-congested area of Garhi Shahu.<br/><br/>Gunfire and explosions were heard from the mosques which were quickly cordoned off by security forces.<br/><br/>IG Punjab Tariq Salim Dogar said, the Police killed one attacker and captured another two including an injured, from Model Town. <br/> <br/>India has condemned the attacks. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi offered condolences to the families of those killed in these acts of terrorism.
News On AIR | May 29, 2010 11:06 AM
Mosque attack in Pak: 80 dead