Pakistan

Dozens held over cricket attack as Sri Lankan players arrive home

Article published on the 2009-03-04 Latest update 2009-03-04 14:08 TU

Mourners pray for victims at the site of the shooting in Lahore
(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistan has detained at least 24 people for questioning in connection with Tuesday's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, according to police and security officials. The driver of the bus has been hailed as a hero, and the traumatised Sri Lankan cricketers have arrived back home.

"I’m rather sceptical about the arrests […] the point is, none of the original perpetrators have been arrested," says correspondent Arif Nizami.

As the investigations into the attack continue, wounded and traumatised Sri Lankan cricketers returned home on Wednesday.

Seven players and an assistant coach were injured in the attack, which left six police officers and two civilians dead.

Meanwhile, the driver of the bus, which came under fire, has been hailed as a hero for saving the lives of the team.

“The thought that the Sri Lankans are guests and my country’s image will be ruined if any of the players got seriously hurt spurred me,” Meher Mohammad Khalil, the bus driver, told AFP.

Ammunition recovered from the site of the attack
(Photo: Reuters)

Khalil described how the men, armed with grenades, a rocket-launcher and automatic weapons, ambushed the team’s vehicle as he approached a roundabout.

They were not far from Lahore's Gaddafi stadium, when a grenade was thrown at the bus. But Khalil kept his composure, and drove between security vehicles to safely enter the stadium.

The Pakistani press has published a document indicating that the dismissal of the Punjab provincial government may have prevented action to stop the attack.

"This is also related to the fact that there has been a change of administration in Punjab […] the whole administrative set up has been changed," Nizami told RFI.

It apparently shows that local police had warned that it was being planned. Police and provincial administration officials met to assess the threat, but the provincial government was then dismissed, following a court ruling against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz, who was Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz.

"Yes there was a warning by one of the intelligence agencies about the Sri Lankan team […] but that was in relation to the one-day matches. So once that passed, I think the security agencies and police began relaxed," added Nizami, speaking from Lahore.

Other newspapers are starting to play the blame game.

“Mumbai terror visits Lahore,” says Dawn, the country’s leading English newspaper.

Dawn suggests that the attack was actually an attempt to kidnap the Sri Lankan players, according to evidence they say the police have gathered.

Cricket in the region has been overwhelmed by security concerns after the attack on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankan cricket board is looking for new quotes to insure the team for the next year, when their current policy expires on 13 March.

In India, cricket bosses are battling to save the lucrative Premier League, after the government called for it to be postponed due to security concerns.

The tournament overlaps with parliamentary elections and government officials are concerned that it would stretch their ability to provide adequate security.

English match officials have also criticised the Pakistani security forces for providing insufficient protection.