Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAHORE64
2009-03-30 10:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Lahore
Cable title:
ATTACK ON POLICE TRAINING CENTER IN LAHORE -- SITREP 1
how-toO 301038Z MAR 09 FM AMCONSUL LAHORE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3982 INFO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL PESHAWAR IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY KABUL AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI AMEMBASSY LONDON NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC CIA WASHINGTON DC SECDEF WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL AMCONSUL LAHORE
UNCLAS LAHORE 000064
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: ATTACK ON POLICE TRAINING CENTER IN LAHORE -- SITREP 1
UNCLAS LAHORE 000064
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: ATTACK ON POLICE TRAINING CENTER IN LAHORE -- SITREP 1
1. (SBU) Between 20 and 25 unidentified terrorists attacked a
police training center in the village of Manawan situated on the
main road from Lahore to the Wagah border with India at
approximately 7:30 am on March 30. Preliminary reports have
placed the number of casualties at 20 with over 100 injured.
Unconfirmed media reports quoting "eyewitnesses" state that
terrorists dressed as police officers used machine guns and
grenades to attack trainees, who were participating in a morning
parade.
2. (SBU) Following the attack, the terrorists barricaded
themselves into the main building of the training academy and
are believed to have taken a number of police hostage. Security
personnel from the Punjab Police, the Elite Force, the
paramilitary Pakistan Rangers, and the Pakistan Army have
launched a counterattack on the terrorists in an effort to
regain control of the facility. The counterattack has succeeded
in creating a security cordon around the main building on the
training center ground in which all terrorists and their
hostages are now believed to be concentrated. Security
personnel are using calculated force out of concern for the fate
of hostages being held by the terrorists. Police sources report
that the training academy's sizeable arms and munitions storage
depot is located inside the building currently controlled by the
terrorists, meaning that the situation will likely take
considerable time to resolve.
3. (SBU) Police sources have been unable to offer any leads
into the perpetrators of the attack. Media is linking this
attack with the March 3 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan
cricket team believed to have been perpetrated by the designated
terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. However, this link
appears to be based solely on the fact that armed gunmen, as
opposed to suicide bombers, carried out both attacks.
4. (SBU) Leaders from across the Pakistani political spectrum
have condemned the attack and called on the Punjab Government to
take swift action to resolve the situation. Pakistan's far
right politicians and commentators, including the new
Jamaat-e-Islami President Munawar Hassan, are claiming foreign
(read Indian) involvement in the attack.
5. (SBU) Consulate Lahore has confirmed that all personnel are
safe and is continuing normal operations. The Consulate held an
EAC meeting March 30 (septel) to review the situation and has
prohibited all personnel from travel on the road between Lahore
and the Wagah Border with India. A warden message to that
effect is being coordinated with Embassy Islamabad.
SIGNATURE
HUNT
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: ATTACK ON POLICE TRAINING CENTER IN LAHORE -- SITREP 1
1. (SBU) Between 20 and 25 unidentified terrorists attacked a
police training center in the village of Manawan situated on the
main road from Lahore to the Wagah border with India at
approximately 7:30 am on March 30. Preliminary reports have
placed the number of casualties at 20 with over 100 injured.
Unconfirmed media reports quoting "eyewitnesses" state that
terrorists dressed as police officers used machine guns and
grenades to attack trainees, who were participating in a morning
parade.
2. (SBU) Following the attack, the terrorists barricaded
themselves into the main building of the training academy and
are believed to have taken a number of police hostage. Security
personnel from the Punjab Police, the Elite Force, the
paramilitary Pakistan Rangers, and the Pakistan Army have
launched a counterattack on the terrorists in an effort to
regain control of the facility. The counterattack has succeeded
in creating a security cordon around the main building on the
training center ground in which all terrorists and their
hostages are now believed to be concentrated. Security
personnel are using calculated force out of concern for the fate
of hostages being held by the terrorists. Police sources report
that the training academy's sizeable arms and munitions storage
depot is located inside the building currently controlled by the
terrorists, meaning that the situation will likely take
considerable time to resolve.
3. (SBU) Police sources have been unable to offer any leads
into the perpetrators of the attack. Media is linking this
attack with the March 3 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan
cricket team believed to have been perpetrated by the designated
terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. However, this link
appears to be based solely on the fact that armed gunmen, as
opposed to suicide bombers, carried out both attacks.
4. (SBU) Leaders from across the Pakistani political spectrum
have condemned the attack and called on the Punjab Government to
take swift action to resolve the situation. Pakistan's far
right politicians and commentators, including the new
Jamaat-e-Islami President Munawar Hassan, are claiming foreign
(read Indian) involvement in the attack.
5. (SBU) Consulate Lahore has confirmed that all personnel are
safe and is continuing normal operations. The Consulate held an
EAC meeting March 30 (septel) to review the situation and has
prohibited all personnel from travel on the road between Lahore
and the Wagah Border with India. A warden message to that
effect is being coordinated with Embassy Islamabad.
SIGNATURE
HUNT