American national kills three in Lahore

An American man in Lahore opened fire and drove his vehicle at a high speed, killing three persons.

Lahore: An employee of the US consulate
in this eastern Pakistani city opened fire and drove his
vehicle at a high speed to evade an apparent robbery, killing
three persons in a busy commercial area, police said.

The firing by the US national - identified by police
as Raymond David, a member of the staff at the American
consulate - killed two men who were apparently trying to rob
him.

A third man on a motorcycle was killed when he was hit
by David`s vehicle as he attempted to leave the Mozang area of
Lahore. David`s car was intercepted by two alleged robbers,
Lahore Police spokesman Niyab Haider said.

"I opened fire in self-defence," David was quoted as
saying by the spokesman. Haider said a pistol was recovered
from the two men who allegedly tried to rob the US national.

Superintendent of Police (Operations) Umar Saeed too
confirmed the men who intercepted the American were armed.

Police took David into custody after the incident
though no case has been registered against him, officials
said. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the
incident and directed officials to take action against the US
national according to international conventions, TV news
channels reported.

Footage on television showed that the front windscreen
of the US national`s car was punctured by several bullets.

The rear windscreen was shattered.

Witnesses said they had seen the two armed trying to
hold up the US national. They said they had then seen the
American firing at the two men. The US national took photos of
the two men after they fell to the ground on being hit by
bullets, the witnesses said.

The American spoke in Urdu and told people who
surrounded his car that he had acted in self-defence, they
said. People protested in the area after the incident and
burnt tyres to block roads.

PTI

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