Lahore: The two Taliban suicide bombers
who targeted army vehicles within the cantonment in this
eastern Pakistani city on Friday had apparently sneaked into the
heavily guarded area by using a bus, police sources said.
"Since all seven points leading into the cantonment
are heavily guarded by the army and police personnel, hardly
any private vehicle is allowed to enter the area without being
thoroughly checked," a source in the Crime Investigation
Department told agency.
"Security officials usually do not inspect buses
plying on routes in this area. There is a great possibility
that the two terrorists reached R A Bazar within the
cantonment by riding a local bus," he said.
"Specific directions have been issued to officials
guarding entry points to the cantonment to check teenagers
with a pathan look," the source said.
The source further said both bombers were on foot and
it would not have been possible for them to enter the highly
guarded area by evading security personnel. Local buses were
the only "safe" mode of transport they could have used to
reach the destination, the source added.
Forty-five people, including 10 soldiers, were killed
and over 100 others injured when the suicide bombers blew
themselves up after throwing grenades at vehicles of the
Garrison Security Force in R A Bazar.
The bombers were aged between 17 and 20 years. Punjab
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the bombers` features
indicated that they hailed from the tribal areas in northwest
Pakistan. Meanwhile, police sources said three suspects have
been arrested in the cantonment.
PTI
