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Lahore terror attack: the unanswered questions
(Mohsin Raza/Reuters)
A bullet hole in the window of the Sri Lankan team bus
Jeremy Page, Lahore and Times Online
This week's terrorist attack in Lahore on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team, in which eight people were killed and eight Sri Lankan test players wounded, has left a host of unanswered questions that have prompted talk of a conspiracy and accusations that the gunmen were acting on inside information.
Why was the Pakistani team delayed?
The question was raised by Chris Broad, match referee: On the first two days [of the Test] both buses left at the same time with escorts. On this particular day the Pakistan bus left five minutes after the Sri Lankan bus. Why?
Simon Taufel, an umpire added: "One thing I have been impressed about in Pakistan as that logistically they are usually very well organised. They normally depart on time,"
Younis Khan, Pakistan team captain, confirmed the delay: "Thank God we decided to leave our hotel five minutes after the Sri Lankans."
Given it was delayed, was the security escort split between the two teams (Pakistan and Sri Lanka)?
Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spin bowler, said: "Normally all the buses go and we have four or five escorts. We left at 8.30am, and Younis Khan at 8.35am. We divided into two."
How many police vehicles and officers were protecting the Sri Lankan team when it was attacked?
Mehar Mohammed Khalil, driver of the Sri Lankan bus, said the police escort comprised four vans, each carrying six armed officers, and four police outriders on motorcycles.
Chris Broad said: There was not a sign of a policeman anywhere. They had clearly left the scene and left us to be sitting ducks."
Why were the police unable to kill or capture any of the gunmen?
Mr Khalil said: "I thought it was very strange that the bullets fired by the elite police didn't hit the attackers."
Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka team captain, added: "They [the gunmen] were not under pressure ... nobody was firing at them."
If the teams were promised presidential level security (jamming devices, bullet-proof vehicles etc), why was it not provided?
Chris Broad and the players said Pakistani officials had promised to give them presidential style" security as part of efforts to convince them to make the trip. I am extremely angry we were promised high-level security and in our hour of need that security vanished and we were left just open to anything, he said.
To what extent did the political turmoil in Punjab contribute to the crisis?
Almost all the senior posts in Lahore City and Punjab provincial police have been changed in the previous few days since President Zardari's party took control of the province.
(Mohsin Raza/Reuters)
A bullet hole in the window of the Sri Lankan team bus
Jeremy Page, Lahore and Times Online
This week's terrorist attack in Lahore on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team, in which eight people were killed and eight Sri Lankan test players wounded, has left a host of unanswered questions that have prompted talk of a conspiracy and accusations that the gunmen were acting on inside information.
Why was the Pakistani team delayed?
The question was raised by Chris Broad, match referee: On the first two days [of the Test] both buses left at the same time with escorts. On this particular day the Pakistan bus left five minutes after the Sri Lankan bus. Why?
Simon Taufel, an umpire added: "One thing I have been impressed about in Pakistan as that logistically they are usually very well organised. They normally depart on time,"
Younis Khan, Pakistan team captain, confirmed the delay: "Thank God we decided to leave our hotel five minutes after the Sri Lankans."
Given it was delayed, was the security escort split between the two teams (Pakistan and Sri Lanka)?
Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spin bowler, said: "Normally all the buses go and we have four or five escorts. We left at 8.30am, and Younis Khan at 8.35am. We divided into two."
How many police vehicles and officers were protecting the Sri Lankan team when it was attacked?
Mehar Mohammed Khalil, driver of the Sri Lankan bus, said the police escort comprised four vans, each carrying six armed officers, and four police outriders on motorcycles.
Chris Broad said: There was not a sign of a policeman anywhere. They had clearly left the scene and left us to be sitting ducks."
Why were the police unable to kill or capture any of the gunmen?
Mr Khalil said: "I thought it was very strange that the bullets fired by the elite police didn't hit the attackers."
Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka team captain, added: "They [the gunmen] were not under pressure ... nobody was firing at them."
If the teams were promised presidential level security (jamming devices, bullet-proof vehicles etc), why was it not provided?
Chris Broad and the players said Pakistani officials had promised to give them presidential style" security as part of efforts to convince them to make the trip. I am extremely angry we were promised high-level security and in our hour of need that security vanished and we were left just open to anything, he said.
To what extent did the political turmoil in Punjab contribute to the crisis?
Almost all the senior posts in Lahore City and Punjab provincial police have been changed in the previous few days since President Zardari's party took control of the province.