Tuesday
Mar032009
Breaking News: Sri Lankan Cricketers Attacked in Pakistan
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 16:51
Latest Post: The Latest on the Lahore Attack on Sri Lankan Cricketers
Update (4:40 p.m. GMT): Reuters' latest updates say the death doll from today's attack is now eight- this includes six police, the driver of a van in the players' convoy, and one other. Six players and the coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team are now thought to have been injured.
Meanwhile Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol, Pakistan's minister of state for shipping, has blamed India for the attack, calling it a "reaction" to November's Mumbai attacks, "a conspiracy" and "a declaration of open war on Pakistan by India."
As discussed here, what may at first appear to be an odd target for a terrorist attack may have serious repercussions for the region- the International Cricket Council looks likely to prevent international matches being played in Pakistan, and has also raised doubts over the 2011 World Cup, due to be co-hosted by Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Update (12:40 p.m.): Lifting two comments from Josh Mull ("UJ"), drawing on his knowledge of Pakistani politics and society:
Comment 1: If the various factions of Taliban start condemning it, we’ll be able to triangulate the group responsible based on their current relationships with insurgent leaders. If, on the other hand, we see MULTIPLE groups taking credit, then we’re on the trail to jihadists. Insurgents care deeply about their reputation, particularly their credibility and respect among the local population. Jihadis don’t give a s**t. By their calculation, it’s BETTER for us to be confused as to who really did it and how many jihadis are actually out there....
Comment 2: Now we’ve got a bit of an official narrative. It’s almost the same as Mumbai: 1. It’s Terrorists 2. It’s designed to embarrass Pakistan.
But what the narrative is missing is patience. The Pakistani government reacted almost immediately with “this is a plot to humiliate us!” versus the response to Mumbai, which was “hold on everybody, let’s do a thorough investigation to make sure we have all the facts.”
No, this time they knew it wasn’t their own assets, and they knew right away.
I smell jihadis. Now let’s see who takes credit…
Update (11:45 a.m.): CNN has revised the reports of injuries. As reported earlier, batsman Thilan Samaraweera was shot in the thigh but batsmen Tharanga Paranavitana, not assistant coach Paul Farbrace, was shot in the chest. Reports indicate that gunmen initially targeted a police car and two security vehicles in front of the bus, rather than the team vehicle.
Update (8:55 a.m.): Pakistani newspaper Dawn is reporting six policemen and two bystanders killed. Batsman Thilan Samawareera, shot in the thigh, and assistant coach Paul Farbrace, shot in the chest, are in hospital with injuries which are not life-threatening. Captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tharanga Paranavithana and Ajantha Mendis suffered minor injuries.
Update (7:55 a.m.): Charlie Austin, agent to six Sri Lankan players, relays their story: wheels of bus were shot out but driver kept bus moving. Attack lasted 2-3 minutes.
Update (7;35 a.m.): Sri Lankan cricketers reported injured - Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Mendis, Paranavitana, Samaraweera. One cricketer shot in thigh, one in chest. Others cut by glass.
Update (7:15 a.m. GMT): The two most seriously wounded cricketers are in "critical but stable" condition.
At least eight Pakistani security personnel have been killed and at least six members of the Sri Lanka cricket team wounded in an attack in Lahore this morning. Two of the cricketers have been shot in the assault on the Sri Lanka bus by about a dozen gunmen. The most seriously wounded is Thilan Samaraweera, who yesterday scored a double century (more than 200 runs) in his innings in the Pakistan-Sri Lanka test match.
Update (4:40 p.m. GMT): Reuters' latest updates say the death doll from today's attack is now eight- this includes six police, the driver of a van in the players' convoy, and one other. Six players and the coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team are now thought to have been injured.Meanwhile Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol, Pakistan's minister of state for shipping, has blamed India for the attack, calling it a "reaction" to November's Mumbai attacks, "a conspiracy" and "a declaration of open war on Pakistan by India."
As discussed here, what may at first appear to be an odd target for a terrorist attack may have serious repercussions for the region- the International Cricket Council looks likely to prevent international matches being played in Pakistan, and has also raised doubts over the 2011 World Cup, due to be co-hosted by Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Update (12:40 p.m.): Lifting two comments from Josh Mull ("UJ"), drawing on his knowledge of Pakistani politics and society:
Comment 1: If the various factions of Taliban start condemning it, we’ll be able to triangulate the group responsible based on their current relationships with insurgent leaders. If, on the other hand, we see MULTIPLE groups taking credit, then we’re on the trail to jihadists. Insurgents care deeply about their reputation, particularly their credibility and respect among the local population. Jihadis don’t give a s**t. By their calculation, it’s BETTER for us to be confused as to who really did it and how many jihadis are actually out there....
Comment 2: Now we’ve got a bit of an official narrative. It’s almost the same as Mumbai: 1. It’s Terrorists 2. It’s designed to embarrass Pakistan.
But what the narrative is missing is patience. The Pakistani government reacted almost immediately with “this is a plot to humiliate us!” versus the response to Mumbai, which was “hold on everybody, let’s do a thorough investigation to make sure we have all the facts.”
No, this time they knew it wasn’t their own assets, and they knew right away.
I smell jihadis. Now let’s see who takes credit…
Update (11:45 a.m.): CNN has revised the reports of injuries. As reported earlier, batsman Thilan Samaraweera was shot in the thigh but batsmen Tharanga Paranavitana, not assistant coach Paul Farbrace, was shot in the chest. Reports indicate that gunmen initially targeted a police car and two security vehicles in front of the bus, rather than the team vehicle.
Update (8:55 a.m.): Pakistani newspaper Dawn is reporting six policemen and two bystanders killed. Batsman Thilan Samawareera, shot in the thigh, and assistant coach Paul Farbrace, shot in the chest, are in hospital with injuries which are not life-threatening. Captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tharanga Paranavithana and Ajantha Mendis suffered minor injuries.
Update (7:55 a.m.): Charlie Austin, agent to six Sri Lankan players, relays their story: wheels of bus were shot out but driver kept bus moving. Attack lasted 2-3 minutes.
Update (7;35 a.m.): Sri Lankan cricketers reported injured - Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Mendis, Paranavitana, Samaraweera. One cricketer shot in thigh, one in chest. Others cut by glass.
Update (7:15 a.m. GMT): The two most seriously wounded cricketers are in "critical but stable" condition.
At least eight Pakistani security personnel have been killed and at least six members of the Sri Lanka cricket team wounded in an attack in Lahore this morning. Two of the cricketers have been shot in the assault on the Sri Lanka bus by about a dozen gunmen. The most seriously wounded is Thilan Samaraweera, who yesterday scored a double century (more than 200 runs) in his innings in the Pakistan-Sri Lanka test match.