BBC Homepage World Service Education
BBC Homepagelow graphics version | feedback | help
BBC News Online
 You are in: World: South Asia
Front Page 
World 
Africa 
Americas 
Asia-Pacific 
Europe 
Middle East 
South Asia 
-------------
From Our Own Correspondent 
-------------
Letter From America 
UK 
UK Politics 
Business 
Sci/Tech 
Health 
Education 
Entertainment 
Talking Point 
In Depth 
AudioVideo 

Tuesday, 13 March, 2001, 10:36 GMT
Gunmen attack Pakistan mosque
Mourners carry the body of one of the victims
Mourners carry the body of one of the victims
At least nine people were killed in an attack outside a Sunni Muslim mosque in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Monday, the Pakistan authorities have confirmed.

Reports say three armed men on motorcycles opened fire on worshippers gathering for evening prayers.

Victim of Lahore attack
The government called it a terrorist attack
Police said about four people were injured in the attack.

Some 30 people were in the mosque at the time.

Witnesses said the gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons for several minutes.

"I heard the rattling of gun shots and loud shrieks before I was run over by the yelling crowd," the AFP news agency quoted Mohammad Musa as saying.

A government official described the incident as a terrorist attack.

Sectarian violence

About 50 people have been killed in armed attacks in Pakistan in the last month.

A BBC correspondent in Lahore says most of them targeted Shia Muslims, suggesting a sectarian dimension.

Violence also followed the execution of a Sunni Muslim radical, Haq Nawaz, last month.

He was hanged for the killing of an Iranian diplomat in Pakistan, 10 years ago.

Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, was in Lahore during this latest attack, for an overnight stay.

Last week, he had warned of stern action against terrorists.

"I want to say this very categorically that anyone who has indulged in such killings and whosoever is behind these killings, would be taken to task sternly," General Musharraf said.

Search BBC News Online

Advanced search options
Launch console
BBC RADIO NEWS
BBC ONE TV NEWS
WORLD NEWS SUMMARY
PROGRAMMES GUIDE
See also:

28 Feb 01 | South Asia
Clashes follow Pakistani execution
24 Feb 01 | South Asia
Pakistan arrests 200 Sunni activists
12 Apr 00 | South Asia
Analysis: Pakistan's religious rift
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more South Asia stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more South Asia stories