An estimated 14 terrorists, in the guise of preachers, have sneaked into the federal capital and Lahore to carry out strikes on state targets, Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned authorities.
The warnings come just days after Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud said his group planned to carry out more attacks across the country. Intelligence officials have asked law enforcement agencies to beef up security at important government and private buildings, hotels and other public places to avert attacks by the terrorists disguised as preachers, a TV channel reported.
Officials in Peshawar told the Daily Times newspaper that security agencies had been warned that seven suicide bombers were planning to carry out an attack on government installations in the North West Frontier Province on the lines of the terrorist siege of a police training centre near Lahore on Monday.
"We have intelligence that seven suicide bombers have been looking for targets which may be in Peshawar or any other district (of the NWFP)," a senior government official said.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud had on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack on the police training centre at Manawan and threatened to carry out more such attacks "in the next few days" to avenge missile strikes by US drones in the tribal areas.
His top commander Hakimullah's compound was targeted by a drone fired missile attack yesterday killing 12 militants, including foreigners, in Aurakzai Agency. Hakimullah warned: "The pain of this attack will be felt in Islamabad.''
