Pakistan/Sri Lanka

Officials claim cricket attackers identified, police report ready within 24 hours

Article published on the 2009-03-06 Latest update 2009-03-06 14:05 TU

Sketches of the suspects issued by Pakistani police
(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistani police say that they will have an interim report into the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team available within 24 hours. The governor of Punjab province, where the attack took place, after claims the authorities have identified the people responsible for the deadly assault.

 “We have identified the people who did the operation,” Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said late on Thursday. 

A number of people were detained by police on Wednesday for questioning, although no group has claimed responsibility for this week's attack in Lahore. Pakistani police have issued sketches of four suspects.

In Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd voiced concern over claims by Australian umpire Simon Taufel that the bus was left unprotected once the attack began. 

“I am sufficiently concerned about what has been said by the Australians that we need an explanation, and we intend to get one,” Rudd told a radio interviewer on Friday.

Indian cricket players observing a minute's silence for the victims of the Lahore attack
(Photo: Reuters)

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged Pakistani political leaders in Pakistan to put aside differences to focus on the deteriorating security situation.

"I think that the degree of political disunity that exists at the moment is only contributing to the problem," said Miliband. He called on President Asif Ali Zardari and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, who was recently banned from standing for parliament, to “come together to unite against the mortal threat which Pakistan faces, which is a threat from its internal enemies, not its traditional external enemies".

Cricket, which is followed by millions of people in Pakistan, has suffered a major setback since the assault in Lahore.

The International Cricket Council has said it is unsure whether Pakistan should still be considered as cohosts for the 2011 World Cup.

In neighbouring India, security concerns have also been brought into focus with the approaching Twenty20 tournament.

But Premier League chief, Lalit Modi has insisted that the lucrative tournament will still go ahead, especially since it overlaps with general elections in the country.

“We are working on a revised schedule where matches do not clash with elections in a particular city,” said Modi on Friday.

Ronald Noble, the head of the international criminal police organisation, Interpol, was Pakistan on Friday as part of the investigation into the Mumbai attacks, which India blamed on Pakistani armed groups.

Noble held talks with Rehman Malik, the boss of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism initiatives.