Commander of banned outfit behind Lahore attack identified: intelligence sources

LAHORE: The commander of the banned outfit involved in the deadly Charing Cross suicide bombing earlier this week has been identified, Geo News reported.

Intelligence sources informed that the commander of the banned militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Akhtar Khalil Urfi Hasan, along with another accomplice Ameen, are “important characters” behind the Lahore attack.

According to the sources, Urfi Hasan sent four terrorists to Lahore and two terrorists to Sialkot. The Lahore suicide attacker and his three accomplices were provided residence by Ameen in Lahore.

Security agencies are trying to track down Akhtar Khalil Urfi Hasan and Ameen, the sources added.

A detailed report on the investigation has been submitted to the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, sources inside the interior ministry informed earlier today.

The latest development follows the arrest of two facilitators involved in the attack earlier this week.

According to police sources, the facilitators were apprehended from Dera Ismail Khan and Lahore. The terror group had entered Lahore from South Punjab. The arrested suspects were moved to an undisclosed location for interrogation, the sources added.

On Thursday, a picture showing one of the alleged facilitators of the suicide bombing was released. A reward of Rs 1 million has been announced for information pertaining to the facilitator. 

At least 14 people were martyred including two senior police officials in a suicide attack in Lahore on February 13. The suicide bomber hit close to the Punjab Assembly when hundreds of demonstrators had gathered for a protest.