93 killed in Lahore attacks
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Damaged vehicles are seen in Garhi Shahu area after a militant attack in eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, Pakistan, on May 28, 2010. [Xinhua] |
Death toll hit 93 in gunmen attacks in Pakistan's Lahore, local TV channels reported Saturday.
More than 100 people were also injured during the Friday attacks, according to the private TV Express.
Two groups of unknown militants attacked two worship places almost simultaneously in eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The attacks were carried out at Garhi Shahu and Model Town Block C areas of Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province.
The militants, wearing suicide jackets and holding hand grenades,entered the worship places of a religious group Ahmadi, declared non-Muslims in Pakistani in early 1970s, witnesses said.
The assailants made the worshippers hostages after making their way to both the worship places, hurling hand grenades and spraying volleys of bullets.
According to the local TV channels, almost after two hours of struggle the situation was brought under control and the kidnapped worshipers were rescued.
Some injured people died in hospitals, police source said.
A previously unknown group identified itself as Al-Qaeda Al- Jihad Punjab Wing claimed responsibility of the incident, according to ARY news.
Ahmadi is a religious movement founded towards the end of the 19th century and originating with the life and teachings of its founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Pakistan has around four million Ahmadis and is the only state to have officially declared the Ahmadis to be non-Muslims in 1974.
