October 2009 Lahore attacks

The same Federal Investigation Agency regional headquarters was hit by a suicide car bomb in March 2008. Earlier in the day, a suicide car bomber blew himself up at a police station in Kohat. These and other events have led to Pakistan's preparation for a major operation in Waziristan.{{cite news|url=http://www.samaa.tv/News13497-Lahore_16_people_killed_in_attack_on_police_station.aspx|title=Lahore: 16 people killed in attack on police station|date=15 October 2009|publisher=Samaa.tv|access-date=2009-10-15}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

According to Punjab Home Secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif, the Federal Investigation Agency's regional headquarters in Lahore was attacked by four individuals. Initial shots killed two attackers, including a suicide bomber.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6332621/Pakistan-police-stations-targeted-in-wave-of-attacks.html|title=Pakistan: police stations targeted in wave of attacks|date=15 October 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2009-10-15 | location=London}} Hostages were taken, including FIA officials; the government responded with a siege lasting 90 minutes. In the end, four government employees, including three FIA agents, and a bystander were killed.

The Elite Police Academy, situated at Bedian Road 5 kilometers from the Manawan Police Training School (which was also targeted) was attacked by six men in militia uniforms.{{cite news|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=89122 |title=Lahore: several killed as 3 security forces buildings targeted |date=15 October 2009 |work=The News International|access-date=2009-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020013931/http://thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=89122 |archive-date=20 October 2009 }} Six policemen and five militants were killed. Only one militant was killed by the police; the three others were suicide bombers. The battle lasted until afternoon; in the aftermath, a family which was being held hostage was freed.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/09-gunmen-fire-at-fia-office-in-lahore--szh-04|title=Spate of attacks leaves 27 dead, 30 injured in Lahore|date=16 October 2009|work=Dawn|location=Pakistan|access-date=2009-10-16}}

Four attackers were dropped off at the training center in a Suzuki van around 9:10 am local time. Two attackers shot and killed the guard at the gate, and then entered the center by scaling the main gate. The two other attackers followed, throwing grenades on their way. One went to the kitchen, another to the patients' barracks, and a third to the barber's salon. One was spotted and gunned down on the lawn. Nine policemen were killed and fifty were injured in the attack, which lasted until about 11:50 am.

.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/09-gunmen-fire-at-fia-office-in-lahore--szh-04|title=Terrorists descend on Lahore; five civilians, 12 policemen killed|date=16 October 2009|work=Dawn|location=Pakistan|access-date=2009-10-16}}

Many such attacks over the past year have been carried out by Taliban or Punjabi militant groups, or, as in the army headquarters attack on 10 October 2009, a combination of both. According to GEO News, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.{{cite news

| last = Hussain

| first = Zahid

|author2=Rehmat Mehsud

| title = Wave of Deadly Attacks in Pakistan

| newspaper = The Wall Street Journal

| date = 15 October 2009

| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125557894653686797?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews

| access-date = 2009-10-15

| quote = Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the Lahore attacks, according to a private TV news channel, GEO News.}}

At least 9 people having links with group behind the attack have been apprehend. A large amount of ammunitions, and maps of sensitive installations were recovered.{{cite news|url=http://www.geo.tv/10-22-2009/51430.htm|title=Network involved in Lahore mayhem traced|date=22 October 2009|publisher=Geo.tv|access-date=2009-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025141041/http://www.geo.tv/10-22-2009/51430.htm|archive-date=25 October 2009|url-status=dead}}

• President Asif Ali Zardari said that this violence will not deter the government from eliminating the extremism.
• Interior Minister Rehman Malik said, "The enemy has started a guerrilla war. The whole nation should be united against these handful of terrorists, and God willing we will defeat them."
• Punjab Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the police were trying to take some of the militants alive so information could be extracted from them.

• 2009 Lahore police academy attacks
• List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001

{{reflist}}

{{ external media

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| float = right

| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjTCrept1Kc&feature Lahore FIA Building Firing]

| video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8dcdRAvRiA Arms & Ammunition Recovered Visuals – Bedian, Lahore]

}}

• [http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/09-gunmen-fire-at-fia-office-in-lahore--szh-04 Police interrogate suspects after Lahore attacks]

{{coord missing|Lahore}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lahore attacks}}

Category:Mass murder in 2009

Category:Spree shootings in Pakistan

Category:School massacres in Pakistan

Category:Crime in Punjab, Pakistan

Category:Hostage taking in Pakistan

Category:Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2009

Category:Terrorist incidents in Lahore

Category:2000s in Lahore

Category:October 2009 in Pakistan

Category:Attacks on schools in 2009

Category:School shootings in Asia