Pakistan arrest terrorists armed to attack five-star hotel

Reports are coming out that Pakistan Police have arrested six Taliban extremists, armed with grenades and a suicide vest, who were on their way to attack a five-star hotel that US citizens are staying in. Out of the six arrested there is believed to be 14-year-old boy as well as prayer leader from the Khyber area close to the border with Afghanistan. The prayer leader is thought to have been the one wearing the suicide vest and they have apparently admitted they were targeting the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore.

Police official, Zulfikar Hameed, said the group were planning on attacking the hotel because Americans were responsible for all the deaths of innocent Muslims in their war on terror in the region. Lahore has been the centre of attack for some year now with the Taliban moving farther across from their stronghold in the northwest. Other attacks across the country in recent times have seen bombs go off in markets and areas that are popular with westerners.

The six had a total of 26 grenades and five bomb detonators and were travelling to the cultural capital by car and motorbike when they were intercepted. Mr Hameed said the group were going to attack even though they were not sure if and US citizens were actually at the hotel.

The Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar was attacked in June last by a suicide bomber killing nine guests. In 2008 a truck packed with explosives drove into the Marriot Hotel Islamabad killing 50 people.