Lahore attack: Mehsud owns up,warns US of ‘revenge’

The Taliban chief,who is wanted in connection with the 2007 assassination of former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto,told foreign news agencies “soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world.”

Mehsud,who operates from the lawless tribal region in Waziristan,said Monday’s attack that killed nine people was in retaliation for US drone attacks in the unruly tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

“We will keep on taking revenge if the US drone attacks continue. And finally a major attack will prove to be an arrow (aimed at) the government,” he warned.

His remarks came as authorities in Lahore carried out widespread raids on suspected militant hideouts rounding up more than 50 people on suspicion of helping the attackers.

“I will deal with the US. It will take some time but I will teach a lesson to the US. By the grace of Allah,we will take revenge inside the US,” Mehsud said,echoing the views of Al-qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

Pakistani authorities continued their interrogation of the captured attacker for the second day on Monday which led them to arrest three other persons for facilitating the terrorists who carried out the brazen attack.

Gul Khan alias Ishrat Khan,who was captured by the police,told them that his group had been sent by Mehsud to carry out the mission.

Khan and his accomplices had rented a house in Manawan,where the training centre is located,a couple of weeks ago to prepare for the attack,police said.

Along with Mehsud,another little-known group called Fedayeen al-Islam also claimed responsibility for the attack on the police academy.

Its spokesman Umar Farooq also claimed to the media that his group had carried out similar style attack against the Sri Lankan cricket team earlier in March.

The elusive Mehsud,who has been targeted by the US drones,said: “…for now it is time to take revenge from Pakistan,” and claimed that he had “increased his activities” instead of restricting his movements after the US announced a reward for him.

He did not divulge any details about the attacks he was planning but said they “would be a test for the government’s security agencies”.