Government Officials said on Saturday that a joint force made up of Special Operations, Police and military security forces managed to foil a planned “major terrorist attack” on Christians set to happen tomorrow. The raid resulted in the killing one terrorist and the capturing of his two accomplices, including one woman. The military said in a statement that four soldiers were injured during the overnight raid but none were killed.
The spokesperson said it was not clear exactly what terrorist group was planing the attack but the militant group wanted to target Easter Sunday services attended by Christians in the eastern city of Lahore, Pakistan. Last year, at least 72 people were killed and hundreds wounded after a bomb ripped through a children’s play area in Lahore’s Iqbal Park where Christian families were celebrating Easter. There were also several hundred Muslims present in the park at the time of the attack and many of them were among the wounded and killed.
Military officials said this latest raid came just hours after Christians celebrated Good Friday by attending churches throughout the city. Pakistan Security forces, have in recent months, stepped up operations against militants throughout the country. But Friday’s raid, which ended in a massive shootout, came as Christians prepared to celebrate Easter Sunday.
A spokesperson said that security forces were reacting to a tip that several bombings where planed to take place while Easter Services were being conducted in Christian churches in the city on Sunday. The attacks could have easily resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Christians if it had not been for the quick reaction of Security Forces to the intelligence. In addition to the three terrorists, authorities recovered two suicide jackets, a weapons cache and a large amount of explosives in the raid.