Five members of the Sri Lankan cricket team were wounded when a dozen gunmen attacked their bus in Pakistan on Tuesday. The team was on its way to a stadium in the city of Lahore with a police escort. At least seven policemen and security staff died in the gunfire.
Sri Lanka's sports minister listed five players and an assistant coach among the wounded, two of whom were being treated in hospital. Sri Lankan media reported that the wounded included Thilan Samaraweera, who scored a double century in the ongoing Test match. It was unclear who was behind the attack in Lahore, but it appeared to have been carefully coordinated. City police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said 12 masked gunmen participated in the attack, using rocket launchers, hand grenades and other weapons.
Sri Lanka's cricket players were touring Pakistan for three test matches and five one-day internationals. Cricket Australia and the Indian cricket board have expressed shock and condemnation at the attacks.
(CCTV March 4, 2009)
