Lahore attack mastermind identified: Pak

New Delhi: Little-known terrorist Muhammad Aqil has been identified by Pakistani security agencies as the mastermind of the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.

But raids across the city to nab him proved futile on Monday as he managed to escape.

The security agencies conducted raids at several places after identifying Aqil, who has links to a banned terrorist group. However, the name of the group was not revealed.

Though Aqil, who hails from Kahuta, managed to escape, his accomplice Talat was captured, Geo News channel quoted sources as saying.

Talat and Aqil had been living in a flat near the Liberty traffic roundabout, where the Sri Lankan team was attacked on March 3 by a dozen gunmen who ambushed its luxury bus, leaving seven players and an assistant coach injured and eight people dead.

Talat purchased a mobile phone SIM that was used by the terrorists involved in the attack, Geo News reported. Aqil masterminded the attack and was also in-charge of its execution, it added.

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