30 killed in terror attacks on two Lahore mosques

LAHORE: Terrorists armed with suicide vests, automatic weapons and grenades stormed two mosques packed with hundreds of Friday worshippers from Pakistan's minority Ahmadi sect here on Friday, killing at least 30 people and injuring scores in the first major attack in Lahore since March.

The coordinated attacks by two groups of terrorists, which began at around 1.45 pm local time, targeted the mosques in heavily-congested area of Garhi Shahu and upscale Model Town.

At least 30 people had died in the attacks on the mosques so far and scores were injured, state-run Rescue Service spokesman Fahim Jahanzeb said, adding the toll could rise.

Gunfire and explosions were heard from the mosques of the Ahamadis - which have been targeted by the radical Sunni groups in the past. The mosques were quickly cordoned off by security forces.

Punjab police chief Tariq Salim Dogar said the situation had largely been brought under control at the Model Town mosque while an operation was still underway at Garhi Shahu, where several terrorists were believed to be holed up in the mosque.

Reports said the terrorists had taken several hostages.

Geo News channel said that seven terrorists had attacked the Model Town mosque and five of them were killed by the security forces. It said one attacker was captured.

Twenty eight of the injured were rushed to the Jinnah Hospital, officials said. Three of them succumbed to their wounds soon after reaching the hospital.

Seven policemen, including Superintendent of Police Haider Ashraf, were also injured in the exchange of fire with the terrorists.

Witnesses said several gunmen were wearing suicide vests. At least two attackers blew themselves up at the mosque in Garhi Shahu.

The witnesses said the attackers lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately as they entered the mosques.