Global General

Death toll hits 80 in gunmen attacks in Lahore

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-29 08:40

Policemen carry an injured Muslim worshipper away from the scene of an attack on an Ahmadi mosque in Lahore's Garhi Shahu neighborhood May 28, 2010. [Agencies]

LAHORE, Pakistan - Death toll hit 80 in gunmen attacks in Pakistan's Lahore on Friday, police sources said.

Related readings:  Pakistan mosque gunmen kill 30, take hostages  Suspected US missile kills 10 in NW Pakistan  40 militants killed in NW Pakistan  14+ die in target killings in Pakistan's Karachi

More than 100 people were also injured during the attacks, a senior police officer told media.

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, and held hostage hundreds of worshipers in Garhi Shahu, witnesses said.

According to the local TV channels, almost after two hours of struggle the situation was brought under control.

Detainees came out from the Garhi Shahu worship place after police complete operation against terrorists.

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.