Gunmen attack 2 Pakistani mosques

Armed militants, some of them wearing suicide vests, stormed two mosques in Lahore's Model Town and Garhi Shahu after Friday prayers. They hurled grenades and fired at worshippers, and also took hostages in attacks that were extremely well-coordinated, officials said.

The two mosques are frequented by members of the minority Muslim Ahmadi community that was founded in the late 19th century. Followers regard Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a mystic born in 1835, as the messiah. But many orthodox Muslims consider Ahmadis to be heretics.

Death toll could rise

At least 70 people were killed and almost 80 were injured. Officials feared, however, that the death toll could increase. At least three of the gunmen blew themselves up with suicide vests packed with explosives when police tried to enter one of the buildings.

The police were still searching the area on Friday afternoon because at least two attackers were still at large. One attacker had been arrested.

The Reuters news agency quoted Punjab's Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as saying the arrested attacker was a teenage Pashtun. Pashtuns are the majority ethnic group in parts of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistani Taliban suspected

Although it remained unclear who was behind the attacks, officials said suspicion had fallen on the Pakistani Taliban. Some local media reported that a group related to the Taliban had claimed responsibility.

Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab, of which Lahore is the capital, condemned the attacks and vowed to continue fighting against extremism.

"It's a reminder to the nation that Pakistan will achieve its destiny only after we get rid of the worst type of extremism and fundamentalism," he told a news conference.

Friday's shootings were the worst attacks to take place in Pakistan since suicide blasts on March 12 killed 57 people.

du/Reuters/AFP/dpa/AP

Editor: Anne Thomas