Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAHORE198
2009-10-15 13:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Lahore
Cable title:
SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON THREE SECURITY INSTALLATIONS IN
how-toVZCZCXRO0803 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHLH #0198/01 2881326 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 151326Z OCT 09 FM AMCONSUL LAHORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4192 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 4893 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0502 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0205 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0882 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2159 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1839 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5351
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000198
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
SUBJECT: SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON THREE SECURITY INSTALLATIONS IN
LAHORE - - SITREP 1
REF: LAHORE 000064
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000198
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
SUBJECT: SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON THREE SECURITY INSTALLATIONS IN
LAHORE - - SITREP 1
REF: LAHORE 000064
1. (SBU) Summary: At least 30 terrorists, armed with
grenades, guns, and suicide bomb vests simultaneously attacked
three police facilities in Lahore on October 15 - Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) Regional Headquarters, the Punjab
Elite Police Force Training Academy, and the Manawan Police
Training Center. Preliminary reports placed the total number of
casualties at 27. Investigations are ongoing to confirm number
of casualties and attackers at each location. Police sources
have not publicly revealed any information about the
perpetrators of the attacks, although television stations have
repeatedly shown a man being taken into custody at the FIA.
Media are reporting that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is
claiming responsibility for the attacks.
--------------
Description of Attacks
--------------
2. (SBU) Five unidentified terrorists attacked Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) Regional Headquarters on Temple Road,
one mile northwest of Consulate Lahore. The attack started at
approximately 0915L on October 15. Attackers armed with
grenades and guns laid siege to the building for two hours. FIA
personnel engaged the attackers. Eight people died, including
three security personnel and two of the attackers. Two
attackers were reportedly captured alive. FIA Regional HQ was
previously targeted in March 2008, when a suicide bomber rammed
his explosive-laden vehicle into the facility, killing 30 and
injuring over 200 people.
3. (SBU) At about the same time the morning of October 15, ten
terrorists dressed in police uniforms attacked the Punjab Elite
Police Force Training Academy on Bedian Road, located
approximately 15 miles southeast of Consulate Lahore. The
attackers, reportedly including three women, overwhelmed
perimeter security and took 20 trainees hostage. Pakistan Army
Special Services Group conducted a rescue operation. By
approximately 1430L, the Pakistan Army had secured the location
and released the hostages. Police confirmed that at least six
police officers and five attackers were killed. Police sources
confirmed that four attackers were wearing suicide jackets.
Three attackers detonated their jackets and were killed. The
fourth attacker was shot dead by police before detonating the
explosives.
4. (SBU) Simultaneously, four terrorists attacked the Manawan
Police Training Center (PTC),situated on the main road from
Lahore to Wagah border with India, approximately 7 miles
northeast of Consulate Lahore. These attackers, armed with
grenades, guns and explosive vests overwhelmed the primary
exterior check point. Six security personnel were killed in
fighting between the terrorists and police trainees that lasted
over three hours, according to police sources. Fifteen people
were injured. Two attackers were killed by detonating their
suicide jacket. A third man was captured by police and his
suicide jacket was defused. The status of the fourth attacker
is unclear as of this sitrep. Manawan PTC was previously
targeted on March 30, when terrorists stormed the facility and
killed 27 people during an eight-hour siege, reftel.
--------------
Preliminary Local Response
--------------
LAHORE 00000198 002 OF 002
5. (SBU) Leaders from across the Pakistani political spectrum
have condemned the attack. President Asif Zardari and Prime
Minister Yosaf Raza Gilani issued statements against the attacks
and praised security personnel. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz
Sharif, who postponed a trip to London because of these attacks,
denounced the attacks and acknowledged the swift action by the
police to defuse the situation. Sharif declared a state of
emergency in District Lahore. Government offices, schools and
other public facilities remain open, with an increased police
presence.
6. (SBU) Consulate Lahore has confirmed that all personnel
(permanent as well as TDY) are safe. Post is continuing normal
operations. The Consulate held an EAC meeting October 15
(septel) to review and assess the situation. Embassy Islamabad
LEGATT has dispatched an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team
to Lahore at the behest of the FIA, and A/RSO Lahore is
providing support to the team.
CONROY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
SUBJECT: SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON THREE SECURITY INSTALLATIONS IN
LAHORE - - SITREP 1
REF: LAHORE 000064
1. (SBU) Summary: At least 30 terrorists, armed with
grenades, guns, and suicide bomb vests simultaneously attacked
three police facilities in Lahore on October 15 - Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) Regional Headquarters, the Punjab
Elite Police Force Training Academy, and the Manawan Police
Training Center. Preliminary reports placed the total number of
casualties at 27. Investigations are ongoing to confirm number
of casualties and attackers at each location. Police sources
have not publicly revealed any information about the
perpetrators of the attacks, although television stations have
repeatedly shown a man being taken into custody at the FIA.
Media are reporting that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is
claiming responsibility for the attacks.
--------------
Description of Attacks
--------------
2. (SBU) Five unidentified terrorists attacked Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) Regional Headquarters on Temple Road,
one mile northwest of Consulate Lahore. The attack started at
approximately 0915L on October 15. Attackers armed with
grenades and guns laid siege to the building for two hours. FIA
personnel engaged the attackers. Eight people died, including
three security personnel and two of the attackers. Two
attackers were reportedly captured alive. FIA Regional HQ was
previously targeted in March 2008, when a suicide bomber rammed
his explosive-laden vehicle into the facility, killing 30 and
injuring over 200 people.
3. (SBU) At about the same time the morning of October 15, ten
terrorists dressed in police uniforms attacked the Punjab Elite
Police Force Training Academy on Bedian Road, located
approximately 15 miles southeast of Consulate Lahore. The
attackers, reportedly including three women, overwhelmed
perimeter security and took 20 trainees hostage. Pakistan Army
Special Services Group conducted a rescue operation. By
approximately 1430L, the Pakistan Army had secured the location
and released the hostages. Police confirmed that at least six
police officers and five attackers were killed. Police sources
confirmed that four attackers were wearing suicide jackets.
Three attackers detonated their jackets and were killed. The
fourth attacker was shot dead by police before detonating the
explosives.
4. (SBU) Simultaneously, four terrorists attacked the Manawan
Police Training Center (PTC),situated on the main road from
Lahore to Wagah border with India, approximately 7 miles
northeast of Consulate Lahore. These attackers, armed with
grenades, guns and explosive vests overwhelmed the primary
exterior check point. Six security personnel were killed in
fighting between the terrorists and police trainees that lasted
over three hours, according to police sources. Fifteen people
were injured. Two attackers were killed by detonating their
suicide jacket. A third man was captured by police and his
suicide jacket was defused. The status of the fourth attacker
is unclear as of this sitrep. Manawan PTC was previously
targeted on March 30, when terrorists stormed the facility and
killed 27 people during an eight-hour siege, reftel.
--------------
Preliminary Local Response
--------------
LAHORE 00000198 002 OF 002
5. (SBU) Leaders from across the Pakistani political spectrum
have condemned the attack. President Asif Zardari and Prime
Minister Yosaf Raza Gilani issued statements against the attacks
and praised security personnel. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz
Sharif, who postponed a trip to London because of these attacks,
denounced the attacks and acknowledged the swift action by the
police to defuse the situation. Sharif declared a state of
emergency in District Lahore. Government offices, schools and
other public facilities remain open, with an increased police
presence.
6. (SBU) Consulate Lahore has confirmed that all personnel
(permanent as well as TDY) are safe. Post is continuing normal
operations. The Consulate held an EAC meeting October 15
(septel) to review and assess the situation. Embassy Islamabad
LEGATT has dispatched an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team
to Lahore at the behest of the FIA, and A/RSO Lahore is
providing support to the team.
CONROY