Pakistan police 'warned of Sri Lanka attack'
Pakistani authorities warned of possible strike on Sri Lankan cricket team in January, leaked report claims
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Wednesday, 04, Mar 2009 06:13
Pakistani authorities were warned of a possible strike on the Sri Lankan cricket team in January, leaked documents have revealed.
A report seen by the country's media shows that the Punjab crime investigation department said intelligence had been received about a threat to the touring cricketers.
But the report was not acted on due to turbulence in the state's government, it has been claimed.
A dozen heavily-armed terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Punjab, yesterday, wounding seven cricketers and killing six policemen and a driver.
The leaked intelligence report dated January 22nd was discussed by police and politicians a day later but not acted on after the federal government of president Asif Ali Zardari sacked the state authorities.
Pervez Rashid, a senior member of sacked Punjab government, said: "Intelligence reports said there might be an attack on the cricket team.
"They made no appropriate security arrangements."
Islamabad responded to the claims by accusing opponents of Mr Zardari of attempting to gain political capital from the terrorist attack.
"It is disturbing that a major Pakistani political party would attempt to score cheap domestic points during such a serious incident," a spokesman said.
"This was the Pakistani police at their finest. Officers gave their lives."