By IANS,
Lahore : Five policemen were killed and six Sri Lankan cricket team members were injured Tuesday morning when gunmen opened fire at the bus carrying the cricketers here, the police said.
“Six of our players were wounded during the shooting incident targeting the Test team travelling to the match venue at Lahore. We are very concerned about this incident,” Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said in Colombo.
The gunmen attacked the bus of the Sri Lankan cricket team as it was on its way to the Gaddafi stadium here for the Test against Pakistan. Four members of the Sri Lankan team were injured.
A police official said that 12 terrorists carried out the attack and the exchange of fire lasted for about 25 minutes. “The attackers had come by rickshaws,” he said.
He confirmed that five policemen escorting the cricket team bus were killed in the attack.
The attackers were armed with rocket launchers and hand grenades.
He said that one Sri Lankan team member was hit on the chest while another was hit on the leg.
Sri Lanka has cancelled the tour.
Geo TV added that the gunmen opened fire on the cavalcade at the Liberty crossing on the way to the stadium for the third day’s play in the second Test from the hotel in which the team was staying.
The police have cordoned off the area.
The Pakistan team has been directed to stay in their hotel.