Terrorists storm Lahore mosques; 30 feared dead

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- dEsPeraTe cRaNky -
LAHORE:

Heavily armed Taliban guerrillas on Friday stormed two mosques in this Pakistan city, killing at least 30 people and injuring many others, according to TV reports. The mosques of the minority Ahmadi sect were packed with about 1,500 worshippers.

The apparently coordinated attacks by two groups of terrorists, which began at around 1.45 pm local time, targeted the mosques in Garhi Shahu and Model Town areas of Lahore.

Witnesses said at least two terrorists wearing suicide vests blew themselves up at the mosque in Garhi Shahu. They said the attackers lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately as they entered the two mosques.

TV channels reported that at least 30 people were killed and many others, including seven policemen, injured in the attacks. Among the injured was Superintendent of Police Haider Ashraf.

Television footage showed gunmen firing indiscriminately from the rooftop of one of the mosques. Gunfire could be heard as people ran to take cover outside the mosque.

A police official told reporters that among the terrorists involved in the Model Town attack "one terrorist is dead, one injured and one has been held".

Worried relatives of the worshippers who were trapped inside the mosques desperately tried to seek information about their fate.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Suicide bombers struck at a market in Lahore city March 12, killing 45 and injuring over 100.
 
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