Police visibility stepped up over terror threat

Security tightened at govt, police offices after suicide bombing report.

LAHORE:

Security was tightened at the offices of government departments and law enforcement agencies on Thursday afternoon after the police received a warning that four suicide bombers had entered the city.

Extra guards were deployed at government offices and approach roads blocked off. There were heavy traffic jams on Queen’s Road after the road in front of the CCPO’s office was closed, once police chief Ahmed Raza Tahir had returned to the building. The police headquarters were also heavily guarded. Citizens who had come to the office to make complaints were turned away.

Superintendent of Police (Mobile) Ather Waheed said that of Mujahid Squad patrols had been stepped up in certain areas.

He said that personnel had been given set routes to cover and advised to remain vigilant. He said that 10 Elite Force cars had also been deployed at eight points on The Mall, Main Boulevard, Ferozepur Road and the Ring Road. He said that police reserves had been put on stand-by.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shaukat Abbas told The Express Tribune that the threat alert had said that the bombers would likely target police offices.

He said that senior police officers had also been sent out on patrol. He said that though the threat of attacks on police offices were not uncommon, they took all such threats seriously and responded to them accordingly.

Civil Lines SP Umer Saeed Malik said that the alert had not indicated what tactics the terrorists would use so there had been a general increase in security across the board. He said the threat was to all government installations.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2011.